Despite some concessions to access in the early start of the pandemic, publishers have returned to aggressive pricing of textbooks. A group of library, educational organizations in the UK have organized together around the #ebooksos campaign to press for more fair and sustainable pricing. See https://academicebookinvestigation.org/2021/10/06/the-sector-united/

The paper calls for “immediate action by publishers an aggregators to introduce more sustainable and affordable pricing models for e-books and e-textbooks” and pledges the signatory bodies to work towards a “fairer and more transparent marketplace” so that “students and teachers in UK higher and further education can gain equitable and sustainable access to e-books, e-textbooks.”

More info at https://academicebookinvestigation.org/ such as

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuZUJs72288