Name: Sometimes Open Isn’t Enough: Leveraging Library Resources in an Oer Ecosystem
Start: 2026-10-08T11:50:00-0400
End: 2026-10-08T12:55:00-0400

All sessions are available online except round tables, special activities, and workshops.

Sometimes Open Isn’t Enough: Leveraging Library Resources in an Oer Ecosystem

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:50am - 12:55pm EDT

7 DR5

ID: 33637

While OER initiatives in higher education have historically emphasized openly licensed materials, many institutions, states, and consortia have been adopting course material affordability initiatives (sometimes called Zero Textbook Cost, or ZTC initiatives). This broader focus includes OER, library-licensed materials, items used within the bounds of fair use/fair dealing, and other free-to-use options – sometimes with all-rights-reserved copyright, and sometimes behind paywalls requiring user authentication. This focus on affordability rather than openness responds to the real-world problem of expensive course materials but also raises new questions about librarians’ roles in upholding the values of the open movement.For many academic librarians, affordability initiatives represent both an opportunity and a tension. On one hand, this approach can scale affordability efforts more quickly by allowing the use of library collections and other existing materials. On the other hand, these approaches may move institutions away from the long-term goals of openness, remixability, and public access that have historically defined the open education movement. Librarians working in this space must often balance pragmatic affordability solutions with broader commitments to open knowledge, ultimately considering whether course material affordability initiatives are hacking the open ecosystem or undermining it.This panel will feature three librarians from different institutions, all of whom are tasked with solving the real-world problem of textbook costs for students and all of whom sometimes recommend “closed” content to reduce the cost of course materials. By hearing the voices of librarians working at different public institutions – a four-year regional university, a large land-grant university, and an urban research university – we will explore the tensions of closed content in an OER world. Panelists will briefly describe their institutional contexts and the strategies they use to support affordability initiatives, followed by a moderated conversation exploring the philosophical, practical, and strategic questions that arise when affordability rather than openness becomes the primary goal. In addition to a Q&A period at the end of the session, panelists will invite attendees to share their thoughts throughout the panel to encourage engaged conversation. Some of the issues to be explored include:What tensions and challenges exist in a space where affordability is the goal, rather than openness?How do librarians define and communicate the differences between affordable course materials and OER?Do affordability initiatives expand or dilute open education goals?What strategic tradeoffs do librarians face in the context of affordability and OER?What specific strategies do librarians use to leverage library collections as course materials?How can librarians leverage relationships with their campus stores to advance affordability goals?How do affordability and OER initiatives enhance or compete with automatic textbook billing programs?By examining these questions through multiple institutional perspectives, this panel will offer participants a nuanced look at the evolving landscape of affordability work in academic libraries. Attendees will gain practical insights into how librarians are navigating the intersection of affordability and OER initiatives, communicating these concepts to faculty and administrators, and making strategic decisions about course materials in complex policy and institutional environments.

Speakers

Cheryl Casey

Open Education Librarian, University of Arizona

Cheryl Casey has led OER initiatives at the University of Arizona since 2014. She’s active in the OER community as a trainer for the Open Education Network (OEN) and one of the instructors for the OEN's Certificate in Open Education Librarianship. She holds a a Master’s in Library... Read More →

Anna Crosswhite

Affordable Course Materials Librarian, Central Washington University

Anna Crosswhite serves as the Affordable Course Materials Librarian at Central Washington University. Her work focuses on affordable course materials including Open Access (OA), Open Educational Resources (OER), and library licensed eBooks. She holds a Bachelors of Social Work (BSW... Read More →

Nancy A. Henke

Open Education Librarian, University of Colorado Denver

Nancy A. Henke is the Open Education Librarian at the University of Colorado Denver where she works to advance initiatives related to Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) and Open Educational Resources (OER). She earned her degree in Library and Information Science from the University of Iowa... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:50am - 12:55pm EDT
7 DR5 MIT Samberg Conference Center, 50 Memorial Drive, Cambridge MA 02139 USA

Panel

Speaker Modality Hybrid
Track Hacking the Open Ecosystem and Praxis for the Public Good

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OEGlobal 2026

Cheryl Casey

Anna Crosswhite

Nancy A. Henke

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Success you have shared X tickets.

OEGlobal 2026

Cheryl Casey

Anna Crosswhite

Nancy A. Henke

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