Back in 2017 I shared a conference presentation that I did on OER (Open Educational Resources, specifically textbooks). Since then, that work has continued and I’m excited to share a new publication today.
It’s a peer-reviewed article in the journal Reference Services Review. They put out a call for submissions for a special issue focused on “how academic libraries are thinking about, engaging with, and addressing affordability issues on their campuses.”
I thought the work we’ve been doing at Sinclair relating to OER and textbook affordability would be a good fit, and my proposal was accepted. I spent the next several months working on the manuscript and then since then have been going back and forth on peer review and subsequent edits. It was a long process but I’m happy to say that the article is complete and has been published online!
The journal uses the Emerald Insight platform and my article can be found here:
Unless you have access through a college or university you have to purchase access, however. And the irony of an article about open access materials being behind a paywall is not lost one me! Fortunately the journal has a good policy where they allow a version of the article to be put in an institutional repository or personal site. I’ve uploaded the self-archived version on our Sinclair LibGuides, so you can click through here to read it:
This paper intends to examine the role of the library at a large, urban community college in the institution’s textbook affordability initiatives.
This case study details the contributions of the Sinclair Community College library to affordability on campus, including participating in a major OER grant initiative; providing consulting and support for faculty and staff; and providing leadership for training and outreach relating to other affordability measures.
The library’s efforts have significantly contributed to Sinclair’s widespread adoption of OER as well as other alternative textbook models that have saved over $1.5 million for students annually.
This paper is a valuable contribution to the affordability discussion due to the degree to which Sinclair has adopted OER; the role of librarians collaborating with key stakeholders; and its focus on the community college population, a diverse and fast-growing sector with particular needs and challenges.
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Back in 2017 I shared a conference presentation that I did on OER (Open Educational Resources, specifically textbooks). Since then, that work has continued and I’m excited to share a new publication today.
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