Penn State is concerned with access to education and student affordability as a whole, outlined in the most recent strategic plan for 2016-2020. A very large concern for students is the cost of their textbooks. It has been found in a large-scale survey by CampusBooks.com that 66 percent of students have chosen not to buy a textbook due to cost. Many more look for any alternative they can to actually purchasing the physical text.

At the libraries, we are committed to helping students solve this problem without risking the loss of materials crucial to their success in class. Following Penn State’s working definition of Open Educational Resources, there are a few ways you can work with the library to make content affordable for students. It is important to note this goes beyond textbooks to items such as assessment archives and multimedia materials.

If you are interested in partnering with the library to increase affordability for your students, reach out to victoria@psu.edu and I will connect you with the right group to make this happen.