By Linda Hauck

Textbook costs make  Villanova students feel “broke,” “frustrated,” “like a cash cow,” “stressie & depressie,” and “overwhelmed.” This is what Librarians tabling in Falvey for Open Education Week heard from the many students that stopped by to chat.

We also heard that students use a variety of coping mechanisms for dealing with high textbooks costs, including some recommended by the Affordable Materials Project, such as rentals, used books, or EZBorrow, but others less effectual, such as “stop buying books and hope for the best,” or less ethical, such as sourcing their textbooks from piracy websites.

Villanova faculty work diligently to source assigned course reading from library subscribed content, make extensive use of eReserves, prescribe the use of previous editions, and use other means to suppress materials costs. More can be done.

A few have adopted Open Educational Resources (OER), free, open licensed, accessible materials in a variety of formats that can be used, distributed, and edited to suit local educational objectives. The most widely used OER are textbooks designed for introductory courses such as those published by OpenStax.

To learn more about OER, check out our OER page or request a workshop at Falvey.

Additionally, faculty will find there are many webinars (filterable by language and online) happening this week offered as part of Open Education Week. You’ll be able to view programs on the basics of how to find suitable OER, panel discussions on switching to OER, workshops on using authoring tools, such as Libretext, and discussions on the intersection of OER with social justice, inclusive practices, and academic excellence.

Linda Hauck, MLS, MBA, is the Business Librarian at Falvey Memorial Library.

By Kallie Stahl 

Michael Foight, Director of Distinctive Collections and Digital Engagement, details the Affordable Materials Project (AMP) to current Villanova students. Photo courtesy of Shawn Proctor, Communication and Marketing Program Manager.

Celebrating Open Education Week, Falvey Memorial Library hosted an information table February 25, 26, and 27, raising awareness about the potential benefits open educational resources (OER) and the Affordable Material Project (AMP) can bring to students struggling with textbook costs. Library staff provided Villanova students and faculty various options for obtaining affordable course materials. Students were treated to healthy snacks (and sugary treats) to help with late-night midterm study sessions in Falvey.

Founded in 2013, Open Education Week aims to raise awareness and showcase impact of open education on teaching and learning worldwide. AMP is a university-wide collaboration between the bookstore, Falvey Library, CASA, and the Office of the Provost, all working together to address one of the most pressing issues students face today — high and rising costs of course materials.

Kallie Stahl ’17 MA is Communication and Marketing Specialist at Falvey Memorial Library.