Library Toolkit: OER and Other Course Texts and Readings

eTextbooks from the Libraries

Looking for a free textbook you can use for your course? Ask a librarian to help you to check the ebook collections. There are textbooks for a variety of subjects and levels included in our ebook packages. Books from our digital collections are sometimes a viable alternative to OER materials or purchased publications.

Things to check when considering an item from the ebook collections:

• Does the content meet your needs?
• Check the record. Look for the field labeled 'Concurrent User Level" (near the bottom of the record). Does it say "Unlimited User Access?" If the answer is yes, then it's a good candidate for a textbook. The whole class can use the book for as long as needed.
• Check the full-text options in the left hand sidebar. Is the book available in the ePub format? If it is, then it is generally considered to be accessible to screen readers. If the only option is PDF format, you should probably check with the Center for Accessibility before making your final decision. Some PDF files are easy to make accessible, and others require a great deal of editing.

Found something you can use? Copy the permalink to add the book to your Blackboard course. DO NOT copy the link from the address bar; it won't work. If you need help adding the link to Blackboard, the librarians will be happy to assist you with that.

Teaching a history or literature class? The ebook collections and selected other databases include many pre-twentieth century literary classics and historical documents. Most of these items have unrestricted access.

Articles from Library Databases

The library databases provide access to the full text of many substantial magazines, and of course, scholarly journals. You can select required or suggested readings from the library's collections and provide links to them inside Blackboard.

For a list of selected magazines that are available digitally and publish respected essays, reports, and new literary works, check out our list of eZines for Contemporary Essays and News.

Found something you would like to use? Copy the permalink to add the essay to your Blackboard course. DO NOT copy the link from the address bar; it won't work. If you need help adding the link to Blackboard, the librarians will be happy to assist you with that.