Librarian Advocacy for Open Educational Resource Adoptions and Programs

Academic librarians are resource finders and are always available and ready to assist faculty and students with research help. Now, with the rising cost of textbooks across the country, movements have developed to help students save money through textbook affordability initiatives and open educational resources (OER). Without hesitation, librarians, along with other constituents, began to take a closer look at initiatives that would be feasible for their institution and for saving students money on textbooks. The process of creating an initiative, finding funding or incentives, and working with administration and faculty is no easy feat. Faculty and administrators want to save students money, but are often skeptical as to whether the initiative will work and whether the money and time spent is worth it. This article will address various scenarios and challenges that librarians may face when discussing different options for faculty and stakeholders on campus. It will also provide examples of ways librarians can collaborate with faculty and others in educating them on the purpose of OER and how to incorporate these free, high-quality resources into their curriculum.