Kemp Library Faculty and Instructional Resources are available to provide assistance throughout the OER adoption process. For general questions about OER, help with locating appropriate OER for specific courses, or advice for creating your own OER, please contact us. We'll be happy to work with you individually to find the best solutions for your OER needs.
Email us
klibrary@esu.edu
Adopting library resources (e.g., ebooks, journal articles, video) as course materials can help your students save money because they already pay to access these high-quality resources through their tuition and fees. Library resources are generally not the same thing as open educational resources, though, due to their often restrictive licensing, inaccessibility for anyone outside an institution’s current student population, and at times, impermanent nature.
If you decide to use library resources in your course, talk to a librarian first! They can help you troubleshoot licensing, print, and access issues before the term begins. They may also be able to acquire a license to content that students would otherwise have to purchase individually.
The chart below compares the features of library resources and open educational resources.
| Feature | Library Resources | Open Educational Resources |
|---|---|---|
| No or low-cost to student | YES | YES |
| Openly licensed | NO | YES |
| Students retain access after leaving institution | NO | YES |
| Institution retains perpetual access | NO | YES |
| Can share materials with instructors and/or students at other institutions | NO | YES |
| Can adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content | NO | YES |
The short video below offers more information on using library resources as course materials.
"Using Library Resources" by Open Oregon Educational Resources is licensed under CC BY 4.0