Webinar | The Library’s Role in Course Content Provision: Textbooks and Open Educational Resources

Historically, academic libraries at US institutions have not worked to deliver or shape course content on campus, leaving that to the bookstore and faculty. While libraries kept books on reserve, they did not move further into the course content space.

However, in the last few years, libraries have begun to take a larger role in delivering course content to help students and institutions navigate the new trends in higher education. This change has been driven by several factors, including the rise of open educational resources (OER), difficulties curating OER, the rising costs of college attendance, and the COVID-accelerated push toward digital content.

This panel will bring together librarians who have done innovative work in delivering content to students to discuss those initiatives. Topics will include:

• What drove the shift for libraries to take a more active role in course content on campus
• How libraries are working to deliver course content to in-need students
• What librarians can do to drive OER initiatives on campus
• How libraries helped make content more accessible during the pandemic
• How librarians can work with faculty to deliver cost-effective course materials that retain their quality
• The future of the academic library and course materials