Abstract
INTRODUCTION This article describes a joint open textbook publishing initiative begun in 2013 between Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries and Press and the Open Educational Resources and Emerging Technologies unit of Oregon State University’s Extended Campus. DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM This initiative combines the Open Access values and project management resources of OSU Libraries, the book production (peer review, editing, design, marketing) expertise of OSU Press, and the technological development skills of the Open Educational Resources and Emerging Technologies unit. Authored by OSU faculty and focused across some of the University’s signature areas, the initiative seeks to establish a sustainable model for research libraries and university presses to collaborate with each other and other partners to publish open textbooks that will benefit students on both economic and educational levels. The article analyzes how open textbooks fit within the emerging library publishing movement, examines the implementation of the OSU open textbook publishing initiative, and conveys some lessons learned for other libraries to consider as they entertain the possibility of similar collaborations. NEXT STEPS A description of next steps includes tracking course adoptions of the textbooks as well as establishing sustainable digital publishing platforms and business models.
Highlights
This article describes a joint open textbook publishing initiative begun in 2013 between Oregon State University (OSU) Libraries and Press and the Open Educational Resources and Emerging Technologies unit of Oregon State University’s Extended Campus
The article analyzes how open textbooks fit within the emerging library publishing movement, examines the implementation of the OSU open textbook publishing initiative, and conveys some lessons learned for other libraries to consider as they entertain the possibility of similar collaborations
This trend is coalescing with the appearance of librarian positions and services that focus on the discovery and adoption of Open Educational Resources (OER), as well as the emergence of the library publishing field, in which academic libraries are assuming the role of publisher for the intellectual output of their institutions
Summary
Academic libraries have grappled with textbook issues. Nearly any university librarian or college library director can offer stories of recurring appeals from students for the library to buy textbooks that can be checked out or put on reserve. While library publishing programs are becoming more commonplace, the creation of open textbooks through these models is just beginning to take shape Within this landscape, there are important opportunities for libraries to become involved in the publication of open textbooks through their own publishing structures, or in collaboration with university presses and other campus partners, to provide both financial and educational benefits to students. (For more details on these programs, see http:// studentpirgs.org/open-textbooks/about in the “Writing and Publishing Open Textbooks” section.) The U.S federal government is poised to enter this sphere as the “Affordable College Textbook Act” (S.7014/H.R.3538) works its way through Congress If passed, this bill would create a large-scale, competitive grant program to fund the creation of OERs by educational institutions. Academic libraries should proactively determine where they fit into the OER and open textbook paradigms to identify potential partners and funders
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