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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Are library resources considered open educational resources?

While not technically open, library resources are licensed for use by currently enrolled students at no cost. This means that using library resources could augment OER in making courses free of text book costs. Usually, there is no problem directing your students to a library resource via a link or specific search instructions, but some resources do have limits on the number of people accessing them simultaneously. For help finding or linking library resources, or for questions about licensing of specific resources, please contact the OER Librarian.

Linking to Library Resources

Linking to library resources from your Blackboard or other course site is a good option that usually does not violate copyright laws or our institutions agreements with vendors. Here are some tips for linking to library resources so that your students are directed to the right place, whether they're accessing the resource on or off campus.

  • Share a stable link - for many databases, you can simply look for a "share this" or "permalink" or "persistent link"  and copy and paste this for your students to use.
  • Get your students to practice library searching! Provide them with the citation for the item you would like to use and have them find it in the library on their own. You could assist by directing them to specific databases or providing them with search terms.
  • Some library databases have open access content that can be retained and shared without restriction. Check with a librarian if you have questions.

OER Print Resources in the Library