Serving the Common Good: Open Textbook Library Turns 14

The Open Textbook Library is a user-friendly, reputable online source for openly licensed textbooks, supported by the Open Education Network and the broader open education community. In April, the library turned 14 and offers more than 1,800 textbooks for visitors to download without delay, at no cost. To celebrate, we’re sharing a few updates on our ongoing efforts to serve the common good, and a reminder to stop by the library anytime.

This spring, the library confirmed “AA” compliance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.2) following an in-depth evaluation of our site. Open Education Network’s Andy Seroff, developer, and Karen Lauritsen, senior director, publishing, began working toward this goal in mid-2025, initiating preparation of the library’s Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT). The VPAT is a highly technical and often time-consuming process that documents how vendors support or neglect web accessibility features.

Over several months, Andy conducted extensive automated and manual testing of the library’s digital accessibility functionalities. Results were recorded and organized according to the VPAT, and publicly posted in an Accessibility Conformance Report linked on the library’s FAQ webpage. Results have also been shared with the Library Accessibility Alliance.

“The Open Textbook Library is continuously evolving to stay up to date with modern standards for websites,” Andy says. “Although the scope of the VPAT was daunting, it is rewarding to know where exactly we stand in the current accessibility landscape.”

We are happy to introduce the library’s new student assistant, Hudeifi Abdihakin. As a computer science undergrad at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Hudeifi began the role in January and says it’s a good fit, particularly for someone who brings an innate love of reading and attention to detail.

He works part-time on a flexible schedule to evaluate submissions, prepare textbook records, and store virtual backups for the library. He also scrutinizes each submitted textbook to verify that it is:

“In some ways, it’s kind of similar to what I do on the computer science side,” says Hudeifi, who enjoys building scripts to automate information. “But the number one reason is, I really believe in the mission of open education. For learners to have access to these texts, regardless of income, intellect, or zeal, just being able to reference them and read through the material is incredibly important for educational equity.”

On May 1st, the library officially launched the Open Textbook Library UK & Ireland Collection, a subset of open textbooks to be hand-selected by librarians and staff representing higher education institutions throughout the UK and Ireland. 

The collection currently comprises 67 textbooks and is expected to expand rapidly as higher education librarians from the UK review reading lists submitted by 14 institutions and continue to submit recommendations to the library. The process enables librarians to create a resource tailored to the needs of instructors across the UK and supports the academic engagement workshops of OEN’s UK members at Brunel University of London, the University of Sheffield, and more.

The project is one key outcome of ongoing collaboration between the Open Education Network and the OER Community of Practice for the UK & Ireland. Brunel University’s David Beales, University Librarian, heads the community’s advisory group and says universities in this region are interested in exchanging ideas and views that are working in our shared contexts.

“We know the conversations we’re going to have will benefit us, and we’re hoping they will benefit our US colleagues as well,” David says. ”Students are having to make really difficult decisions. I don’t believe textbooks should be one of those decisions.”

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Questions about the Open Textbook Library? Email open@umn.edu.