Online Learning and OER Librarian
Using Library Resources
Adopting library resources (e.g., eBooks, journal articles, videos) as course materials can help your students save money because they already pay to access these high-quality resources through their tuition and fees. Library resources are generally not the same thing as OER due to their often restrictive licensing, inaccessibility for anyone outside an institution’s current student population, and sometimes impermanent nature.
If you want to use library resources in your course, talk to your Department/Program Librarian. They can help you troubleshoot access, licensing, downloading, and print issues before the semester begins.
The chart below compares the features of library resources and open educational resources.
| Feature | Library Resources | Open Educational Resources |
|---|---|---|
| No cost to students | YES | YES |
| Openly licensed | NO | YES |
| Students retain access after leaving institution | NO | YES |
| Institution retains perpetual access | SOMETIMES | YES |
| Can share materials with instructors and/or students at other institutions | NO | YES |
| Can adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content | NO | YES |
This short video offers more information on using library resources as course materials.
Library eBooks, while not OER, are another affordable option that are free for students. The PennWest Libraries may have access to an eBook version of your course textbook or we may be able to purchase an eBook for your course. Contact your Department/Program librarian to determine availability of eBooks and potential purchase options. Note: Not every textbook title is available for purchase as an eBook through the library. Standard textbook publishers rarely offer library-licensed eBooks for purchase. Some eBooks may only be available to purchase with a limited simultaneous user license.
Advantages/Disadvantages of Using Library eBooks
+ Library eBooks are free for students to access with their PennWest login.
+ Students can access eBooks from any device or can read them using an internet browser.
+ Faculty can link directly to an eBook in their course syllabus or via a link in D2L.
+ eBooks with unlimited user access can be used by all students at one time.
- Some students may prefer print books for study and annotation and may choose to purchase a copy instead of using a library eBook that must be read online or viewed on a device.
- Many eBooks have limited options for download or printing content.
- Library eBooks do not include interactive quizzes, videos, D2L integration, or other eTextbook enhancements that are usually available from major publishers.
- eBooks with limited user access can only be used by 1 or 3 students at one time.
Ownership vs. Access
The Libraries provide access to eBooks through subscription services (e.g., EBSCO eBooks and ProQuest Ebook Central) or through purchased titles that are owned by the library. For titles available through a subscription service, there is a small chance the books will be removed from the collection and access will disappear. If you are planning to use a title for a course textbook or course readings, let your Department/Program librarian know, and they may be able to determine the most stable point of access.
eBook User Access Licenses
Unlimited User Access - eBooks with this license can be accessed by unlimited users simultaneously. This is the ideal license for an eBook that is being used as a course textbook or course reading.
Limited User Access - If an eBook has this license, it is usually limited to only 1 user or 3 users accessing the title at one time.
- Some eBooks on EBSCO, Proquest, and Taylor & Francis have user access limits, which are indicated in the eBook record.
If you are unsure of the type of access an eBook has, ask a librarian.
Find Library eBooks
To search for library eBooks from any publisher or platform, use OneSearch. Use the search filters on the results page to limit to Online (Full Text) under Show Only and Books and/or Book Chapters under Source Type. You can also search our eBook platforms individually.
Request Library eBooks
The Libraries may be able to purchase eBooks for your courses. Contact your Program or Department Librarian to explore options or submit a request for a specific title.
Articles from library databases are a great resource to use for course readings or to build your own course-pack. It is considered fair use to link students to electronic articles from the Libraries. If you plan to use library articles, here are some recommendations:
- Provide a link to the article. Linking to articles is always fair use and will avoid any copyright violations.
- Use a stable link or permalink. Use our Linking to Resources guide for help in locating the most stable link for articles from online databases.
- Provide a full citation to the article for reference. If the link to the article doesn't work, students can use the citation to locate the article. This is also useful for librarians who may help students with locating an article.
- Check your links before the semester begins. Make sure any library links to articles (and eBooks) are working before your class starts.
The Libraries have several streaming video platforms that faculty can use to locate videos and films for use in courses. Similar to articles from databases, you can link directly to these videos/films in your course documents and D2L course. You can usually find options to link or embed under the "Share" option with the video you want to use.
To browse our streaming video platforms and learn more about how you can incorporate these resources in your courses, visit our Streaming Video guide.
