EMU Student Government and GAMEABOVE fund free access to course texts

The EMU Student Government and GAMEABOVE are supporting efforts to aid students in obtaining no-cost access to some course reading materials.  Both are sponsoring the EMU Library Textbook Affordability Initiative with funds to purchase library ebook versions of books assigned in courses, which students can access online with their EMU NetID.  $50,000 from GAMEABOVE was used to purchase course ebooks for Summer and Fall courses.  EMU Student Government has allocated $40,000, which is allowing the Initiative to purchase even more course ebooks for the Fall semester.  Alumni and EMU faculty have also donated to an EMU Foundation fund to support these efforts.

Course ebooks aren’t the only answer to the problem of expensive textbooks. Only some titles assigned in courses are available for purchase in library ebook format, so the library isn’t able to provide these for every course--although the library has been able to provide hundreds of ebooks for courses across many subject areas.  Some EMU faculty are using high quality open access texts that are free on the web, can often be customized and improved by the instructor, and are sometimes also available as an inexpensive paperback. Many faculty look for less expensive options for students and/or place print copies of texts on Reserves at the library circulation desk for shared student use in the library building. The Eagle Study Tables also provide some texts for undergraduate courses.

The EMU Library Textbook Affordability Initiative provides:

• a large number of course ebooks purchased with grant and foundation funds
• a Textbook Alternatives guide instructors can use to explore free or low-cost text options
• an online form for instructors to request library ebook versions of course books
• increasingly popular consultations with a subject specialist librarian on finding free or less expensive options for course readings,
• presentations or workshops for departments on how to find and use open resources and alternatives, which can be tailored to specific disciplines.
  
  

Questions on the Initiative can be directed to a subject librarian or to Kate Pittsley-Sousa at [email protected]