Buzz
A key aspect of the Open Textbook Library at the University of Minnesota is the contribution of open-licensed textbooks by educators. If your university library is aiming to create an open textbook collection, this serves as an excellent example to follow.
Steps
Differences Highlighted with the Open Textbook Library
Key distinctions.The Open Textbook Library at the University of MinnesotaImpact your students' education by providing free, open-licensed textbooks
Requirements for textbooks in the Open Textbook Library. All open textbooks must go through the review process set by the Open Textbook Library. These reviews are gathered to provide feedback from teachers to other educators, conducted by educators across the U.S. In addition to the peer review requirement, all textbooks in the Open Textbook Library must meet the following stringent conditions:
- Must have an open license.
- Must be a complete textbook (not individual chapters or sections of a textbook).
- Must be available in a transferable file format (such as PDF, ePub).
- Must be actively used in higher education institutions or their affiliates, learning communities, or professional organizations.
Contributing Textbooks to the Open Textbook Library
How to Submit Books to the Open Textbook Library. If you have a textbook you'd like to contribute to the Open Textbook Library, you can do so as long as the book meets the criteria mentioned above, and it will need to go through a review process. This review process involves academic libraries, learning communities, professional organizations, and publishers that support open content, all working to connect the library with high-quality open textbooks.
- Book Title - Enter the title of the book in the field labeled Book title.
- URL for the book - Enter the URL for the book, or the location where you have hosted the book online, in the field labeled http://thebook
- Has an open license - The book must have an open license
- Complete textbook (no chapters or partial books) - The book must be complete (not individual chapters or sections of a textbook)
- Available in a portable file format (e.g., PDF, ePub) - The book must be available in a portable file format (such as PDF or ePub)
- Currently in use at multiple higher education institutions or associated with a higher education institution, academic society, or professional organization - The book must be actively used at various higher education institutions, or affiliated with a higher education institution, academic society, or professional organization.
- Your Name - Please enter your full name in the field labeled Full name please!
- Your Email - Please enter your email address in the field labeled yourmail@email
- Affiliate Institution / Organization - Please enter the name of your affiliated institution or organization in the field labeled Full name please!
- Additional Information - Please provide any additional information you would like to include in the field labeled Anything else we should know?
Recommendations
- If you or your university library are interested in creating an open textbook library, this model provides an excellent reference on various aspects, including the criteria for what qualifies as an open textbook and the process of reviewing books to determine their eligibility for inclusion in the Open Textbook Library.
