Perlego, the digital learning platform offering unlimited access to academic and professional texts, has partnered with the University of Leeds.
This collaboration will enable the Russell Group Institution, which serves nearly 40,000 students, to offer unlimited access to a vast digital library through Perlego as students begin their first semester. Over the last decade, the landscape of traditional libraries and physical textbooks has changed significantly, driven by online learning and increasing costs.
Spearheaded by the University of Leeds’ Libraries Access and Acquisitions team, this partnership seeks to enhance academic resources and improve access to higher education by reducing the expenses and time associated with acquiring physical textbooks.
Gauthier Van Malderen, Founder and CEO of Perlego said:
“The University of Leeds’ partnership with Perlego is an exciting milestone for both us and the broader world of education, shaping the future of higher learning together. We’re so proud to partner closely with the university to ensure that students have fair access to a wide range of academic resources, all through a platform that’s intuitive and inclusive. We’re eager to keep driving our mission forward — empowering students and educators with accessible, technology-driven learning solutions.”
Perlego’s content will be fully integrated into the University of Leeds’ existing library systems, including reading lists, providing a seamless, user-friendly learning tool for both students and faculty. With Perlego’s all-inclusive access model, every licensed user at Leeds can access a comprehensive catalogue of academic texts.
The platform is designed with accessibility and inclusivity at its core. Features like screen reader compatibility, read-aloud functionality, and BeeLine integration, which aids dyslexic readers, are all tailored to support students with additional needs. These tools ensure that all University of Leeds students have equal access to educational resources.
Elly Cope, Head of Access & Acquisitions, University of Leeds Libraries said:
“We are excited to begin our partnership with Perlego for this academic year. We were drawn to their commitment to accessibility, they make it central to the platform and the reading experience both on desktop and their mobile app. Now we can provide these resources with no access limits imposed on our University community, which is a really positive step forward for us. We can widen access to key resources with a more inclusive digital experience as we support staff and students on every step of their academic journey.”
Perlego is a digital learning platform committed to revolutionizing education by making knowledge universally accessible. Its subscription model provides unlimited access to one of the world’s largest collections of academic and professional books, collaborating with over 9,700 publisher imprints and more than 200 institutions globally. Boasting a library of over 1.1 million titles, Perlego strives to offer an economical and accessible solution for textbooks, aiming to lower learning barriers and bolster student success.
The platform prioritizes improving engagement and educational outcomes, adopting a student-first strategy to ensure a superior learning experience. For university staff, Perlego offers streamlined access to a comprehensive resource pool from thousands of publishers, along with institutional support to refine collections and promote strategic goals concerning employability, equity, and inclusion. Leveraging extensive experience and in-depth catalogue knowledge, Perlego assists institutions in amplifying their educational impact and fostering student personal development.
Founded in 1904, the University of Leeds stands as one of the UK’s largest universities and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Renowned worldwide for the excellence of its research and teaching, the University of Leeds is a research-driven institution that leverages its academic expertise to forge a better future. Through collaborative efforts, the university addresses inequalities, benefits society, and fosters transformative change.
The University of Leeds Libraries rank among the UK’s premier academic research libraries, known for their significant global collections and strong commitment to service. They play a vital role in the generation, dissemination, application, and preservation of knowledge. The libraries develop services to support the university’s teaching, research, and engagement activities and enhance access to their collections through digitization and digital infrastructure investments.
As a key cultural center, they enrich both the university and the broader community with their unique collections, resources, expertise, and innovative services.
