Adopting course content should be one of the simplest parts of preparing for a new term. Following the same straightforward, instructor-led model that BibliU uses for its adoption workflow, zyBooks lets you stand up a live class copy for your students in just three steps. The guide below walks you through the full journey — from selecting a title in your library to releasing a customized class copy that mirrors your syllabus.
Overview: Adopt your zyBook in three steps
The zyBook adoption flow is designed to take roughly two minutes of active work, with the rest happening automatically behind the scenes. At a high level, you submit an adoption request, BibliU and zyBooks activate your class copy, and then you customize the book to match how you teach.
Step one is to submit your adoption request: choose your zyBook, enter course and term dates, estimate enrollment, and click Adopt. Step two happens on our side — we activate your class copy, building the course-specific book, surfacing the instructor view in your library, generating a unique class code, and opening enrollment for your students. Step three is yours again: customize your zyBook by reordering chapters and sections, hiding optional content, and editing or adding lab assignments, with your account executive available to help at any point.
A quick-start direct adoption link is always available at learn.zybooks.com/adopt, or you can click "Adopt a zyBook" from inside any evaluation copy already in your library.
Step 1 — Submit your adoption request
The entire submission is a six-step wizard that opens from your zyBooks library. Plan for about two minutes from start to finish.
Open your library and start the adoption
Sign in at learn.zybooks.com. From your library view, click the orange Adopt a zyBook button in the "Adopt a zyBook" tile, or use the direct link printed on the cover of any evaluation copy. The wizard opens to a "Begin your zyBook adoption" screen with a checklist on the left (Selected zyBook, Customizations, Class info, Instructors, Contact info) so you can always see how much is left to complete.
Pick your zyBook from the catalog
Click Select from catalog to browse the full library of titles, including options across computer science, data science, engineering, mathematics, and more. Click the cover of the book you want — the card flips to show a green "Selected" indicator — then press Select to confirm. The wizard returns you to the adoption screen with your chosen title locked in under "Selected zyBook."
Customize — combos and zyLabs (optional)
Before moving on, you have the option to combine chapters from multiple zyBooks into a single custom book, or to enable programming zyLabs for hands-on, auto-graded coding practice. Both are optional. Keep in mind that combo titles and zyLabs add to the student price, so it is worth contacting your account executive for a custom quote before turning them on. If neither applies, simply click Next to continue with the base title.
Enter class information
The next screen captures the essentials of your course. You will be asked for your course number (for example, COP 2222 or CS 101), course name, institution, term start and term end dates, expected number of students, and how the zyBook will be used (required textbook, supplement, etc.). Students automatically gain access two weeks before your term start date and retain access for two weeks after the term ends, so an approximate enrollment number is perfectly fine. Click Next when every required field is complete.
Add instructors and contact information
If colleagues are co-teaching the course, add them here by first name, last name, and email so they receive preview access before classes begin. The following screen collects optional contact information — office phone, mobile phone, and any notes for the account executive helping with your adoption. Filling this in is optional but appreciated, especially if you would like a personal walkthrough.
Review everything and click Adopt
The final screen summarizes the entire adoption: selected zyBook, customizations, class information, instructors, and contact details. Double-check the course number, dates, enrollment, and instructor list, then hit the orange Adopt button. A green "You're adopted!" banner confirms the submission, and your zyBook adoption page becomes available from your library for future edits.
Tip: After adopting, your class copy typically appears in your library within one business day. Your account executive will follow up to confirm everything is in place.
Step 2 — We activate your class copy
This step requires no action from you. Once the adoption request is received, our team automatically handles activation in four parallel tracks. A class-specific copy of your zyBook is created and linked to your course. An instructor view appears at the very top of your library so you can preview the live student experience. A unique class code is generated for you to share with students. And access windows are opened, allowing students to enter the book two weeks before term start and remain in it for two weeks after term end.
Step 3 — Customize your zyBook
Once your class copy is released, you can tailor the content to fit your syllabus exactly. Three customization tools are available from the instructor view, and any change you make appears immediately for students.
The first tool is reorder content: drag chapters and sections into the order that matches the way you teach. The second is hide or mark optional: remove content your course does not cover, or flag sections as optional so students know what to prioritize. The third is edit lab assignments: add, remove, or edit zyLab programming assignments, all of which are auto-graded and sync directly with your grade book.
Ready to adopt?
Submitting an adoption is a two-minute task that unlocks a fully managed class copy, a customizable course book, and a clear enrollment path for your students. Start anytime at learn.zybooks.com/adopt, or reach out to your zyBooks account executive for a guided walkthrough.
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