Event Title
Start Date
17-5-2016 1:00 PM
Keywords
open textbooks, open educational resources, library publishing, academic publishing, best practices
Media File:
Description
Sarah Beaubien, Grand Valley State University (moderator)
How and Why to Dramatically Decrease Textbook Costs
Amy Filiatreau and Jordan Chussler, Lynn University
One recent report shows that students worry about the costs of textbooks more than the cost of tuition. It affects college choice: “More than one-third (34%) of college students said that free textbooks, even for one semester, would affect their college selection while nearly half (49%) of college students would choose one school over another if it provided free textbooks all four years” (source). At Lynn University's Library, we have developed a three-pronged approach to dramatically reduce textbook costs:
- We have created the Lynn University Digital Press (http://lynn-library.libguides.com/digitalpress), part of the Library, to coordinate production and publication of faculty-authored iBooks, which replace traditional textbooks. Students receive these iBooks for free, on their Lynn-issued iPads. We have published about three dozen books so far and many more are being prepared. We hired an editor who works exclusively on these books, and we are implementing a peer-review process. Read more: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/05/07/lynn-u-launches-digital-press-faculty-created-textbooks
- We tired of constantly having to tell students that the Library doesn't collect textbooks. So after an analysis and coordination with the bookstore, as of fall 2015 the Library now purchases each required text, and places them on 3-hour reserve - it's been an incredibly popular program.
- We actively work with faculty to find, curate, and recommend OERs, or find & license unlimited-user e-books from our vendors, to replace expensive texts. We are planning to increase OER adoption in the future, with the possible development of an OER Coordinator position to lead our efforts.
Scaling up OER Publishing with a Networked Approach
Kate Pitcher and Allison Brown, SUNY Geneseo
This presentation will outline development of long-term sustainability and operations plans for an open access textbooks publishing program. Open SUNY Textbooks was initially funded by grant money and participating library contributions towards author and peer review incentives and copy editing services. SUNY Geneseo, along with partner SUNY libraries, are developing a scaled-up, networked approach to digital learning and publishing development within the system, using curated OER content, course supports, editorial services, and instructional technology development and design, based on a new funding model. The two presenters will discuss these collaborations under way in SUNY and share their strategies for developing business models to fund open educational resources and publishing.
Publishing on a Dime: Opportunities and Challenges in Creating an OER Publishing Program
Karen Bjork, Portland State University and Marilyn Billings, University of Massachusetts Amherst
As the rising cost of textbooks continues to burden students, many libraries have begun to facilitate the creation and publishing of Open Educational Resources (OER). The presentation will focus on the opportunities and challenges of creating a library publishing program with limited funding. Lessons learned from open education publishing initiatives will be shared. At Portland State University (PSU), Karen Bjork has worked with faculty on campus to publish eight open access textbooks that have benefited students on an economic and educational level. She will discuss the implementation of the open textbook publishing initiative and share how the library combined the open access values and project management resources of the library with the book production expertise of the Ooligan Press, a graduate program teaching press affiliated with PSU. Open textbook creation best practices and workflows will also be shared. The University of Massachusetts Amherst has led an Open Education Initiative on campus since fall 2011, incorporating open educational resources, library materials, and original content from faculty. Original content is deposited into ScholarWorks @ UMass Amherst. Marilyn Billings will discuss how to achieve buy-in from top administrators, how to build campus-wide partnerships in support of an open education program, as well as how to sell such a program to faculty and create an active cohort group along the way. She will include pointers on overcoming challenges to achieve a successful publishing program.
Recommended Citation
Filiatreau, Amy; Chussler, Jordan; Pitcher, Kate; Brown, Allison; Bjork, Karen; and Billings, Marilyn (2016). "OERs: How and Why?," Library Publishing Forum - Recorded Sessions. https://newprairiepress.org/lpforum/2016/preconference/1
OERs: How and Why?
Sarah Beaubien, Grand Valley State University (moderator)
How and Why to Dramatically Decrease Textbook Costs
Amy Filiatreau and Jordan Chussler, Lynn University
One recent report shows that students worry about the costs of textbooks more than the cost of tuition. It affects college choice: “More than one-third (34%) of college students said that free textbooks, even for one semester, would affect their college selection while nearly half (49%) of college students would choose one school over another if it provided free textbooks all four years” (source). At Lynn University's Library, we have developed a three-pronged approach to dramatically reduce textbook costs:
- We have created the Lynn University Digital Press (http://lynn-library.libguides.com/digitalpress), part of the Library, to coordinate production and publication of faculty-authored iBooks, which replace traditional textbooks. Students receive these iBooks for free, on their Lynn-issued iPads. We have published about three dozen books so far and many more are being prepared. We hired an editor who works exclusively on these books, and we are implementing a peer-review process. Read more: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/05/07/lynn-u-launches-digital-press-faculty-created-textbooks
- We tired of constantly having to tell students that the Library doesn't collect textbooks. So after an analysis and coordination with the bookstore, as of fall 2015 the Library now purchases each required text, and places them on 3-hour reserve - it's been an incredibly popular program.
- We actively work with faculty to find, curate, and recommend OERs, or find & license unlimited-user e-books from our vendors, to replace expensive texts. We are planning to increase OER adoption in the future, with the possible development of an OER Coordinator position to lead our efforts.
Scaling up OER Publishing with a Networked Approach
Kate Pitcher and Allison Brown, SUNY Geneseo
This presentation will outline development of long-term sustainability and operations plans for an open access textbooks publishing program. Open SUNY Textbooks was initially funded by grant money and participating library contributions towards author and peer review incentives and copy editing services. SUNY Geneseo, along with partner SUNY libraries, are developing a scaled-up, networked approach to digital learning and publishing development within the system, using curated OER content, course supports, editorial services, and instructional technology development and design, based on a new funding model. The two presenters will discuss these collaborations under way in SUNY and share their strategies for developing business models to fund open educational resources and publishing.
Publishing on a Dime: Opportunities and Challenges in Creating an OER Publishing Program
Karen Bjork, Portland State University and Marilyn Billings, University of Massachusetts Amherst
As the rising cost of textbooks continues to burden students, many libraries have begun to facilitate the creation and publishing of Open Educational Resources (OER). The presentation will focus on the opportunities and challenges of creating a library publishing program with limited funding. Lessons learned from open education publishing initiatives will be shared. At Portland State University (PSU), Karen Bjork has worked with faculty on campus to publish eight open access textbooks that have benefited students on an economic and educational level. She will discuss the implementation of the open textbook publishing initiative and share how the library combined the open access values and project management resources of the library with the book production expertise of the Ooligan Press, a graduate program teaching press affiliated with PSU. Open textbook creation best practices and workflows will also be shared. The University of Massachusetts Amherst has led an Open Education Initiative on campus since fall 2011, incorporating open educational resources, library materials, and original content from faculty. Original content is deposited into ScholarWorks @ UMass Amherst. Marilyn Billings will discuss how to achieve buy-in from top administrators, how to build campus-wide partnerships in support of an open education program, as well as how to sell such a program to faculty and create an active cohort group along the way. She will include pointers on overcoming challenges to achieve a successful publishing program.
