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Open Educational Resources (OER)

A guide to OER at GWC.

Library Resources are Free to Students & Faculty

Though most library materials do not have open licenses, there are many ways you can incorporate them into your class.

Because library materials are free to students, they can be used in a course that is designated as a zero textbook cost class. 

Like all other copyrighted and restricted materials, you must be careful how you use library resources to make sure you do not violate the terms of use of the resource. The library has created a guide: “Library Services for Faculty.” This guide gives faculty basic information about the library and using the resources in your courses. 

Best Practices

Remember these tips:

  1. When using library materials in your course, such as an article from a database, properly link to the resource instead of making digital copies. If you do not know how to link to a library resource, refer to the Library Services for Faculty guide and the section on Library Resources in Canvas.
  2. Consult a GWC Librarian. Ask them about the specific resources you might want to use in your class. 
  3. Be aware that many online materials, such as eBooks, streaming videos, and journals articles, are not owned by the library. This means that there is a slight chance that online resources may change from semester to semester as our database subscriptions change. Check your links.
  4. When using a library eBook for your class, consider the usage and purpose of the book, as well as any restrictions the book might have. Many eBooks have unlimited uses, but some books are restricted to 1 or more users at one time. Not sure how to find one or use one in your classes? Contact Alana Krause, Online Distance Education Librarian. 

Librarians Can Help You Find OER

Librarians Can Help You Find OER

You may consult a librarian who can search for OER for you. Librarians can also recommend zero-cost options such as eBooks, databases, specialized collections, and more. Keep in mind that librarians have the following skills:

  • Expert searchers
  • May be able to suggest repositories and collections that you can search on your own
  • Can teach skills and tools to conduct successful searches
  • Help with an initial evaluation of resources

Using GWC Library Materials

Our librarians have created many research guides to help faculty and students. 

Faculty guides of interest: 

Resources include course-specific and citation style guides.

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