OER & Textbook Affordability

How to Make Course Materials Affordable to Students

While OER are a great option for reducing textbook costs, they are far from the only solution available. Other options include:

• Use eBooks and articles already available through UO libraries. You can use the 'availability' filters to search for materials available to UO students for free (eResources at UO and Open Access). Or browse ebook and journal databases through UO libraries.

  • UO Libraries may be able to purchase an eBook version of required course materials, instructors can learn more on the Library eBook Purchasing page of this guide.

• Work with your discipline's subject librarian to purchase an eBook copy of your textbook for UO libraries. 

• Make your required texts available through course reserves (and be sure to let your students know in the syllabus). This allows students to borrow textbooks on reserve for a few hours at a time. UO libraries has detailed instructions for faculty using course reserves.

• Post excerpts of articles and books on Canvas. Fair use allows you to post portions of copyrighted material without permission. Making a fair use determination can be challenging, the ALA's fair use evaluator can help, or you can request an OER Consultation. If you want to use excerpts of a print article or book, you can select Scan and Deliver in the request section on a UO library record.