Celebrating a Decade of the Open Textbook Library: The Recap

The Open Textbook Library (OTL) turned 10 in 2022! To celebrate the library’s role in bringing together a community committed to making higher education more equitable, this blog series featured authors, faculty, librarians, students and others who contributed to the library throughout the first 10 years. The OTL Birthday Planning Committee sourced these stories and planned the various elements of our celebration. This post was written by Tonia Johnson, the Open Education Network’s Digital Content Strategist.



In the sixth and concluding post in this series, we’re revisiting some highlights of our 2022 birthday celebration. The library’s milestone prompted us to reflect on challenges overcome, appreciate meaningful progress, and extend our sincere thanks to all who’ve played a role in the library’s growth and success to date. That includes you! 

OTL founder Dave Ernst wrote a post about the library’s history, sustainability, and global impact. “The success and longevity of the Open Textbook Library is only possible because of the efforts of many, many people...thousands, in fact. Faculty, administrators, librarians, staff, and many, many others who are doing the work of higher education. And they see the library as a piece of public infrastructure to support making this work more equitable for everyone – in the U.S. and around the world.”

 

The Open Education Network blog features several OTL stories from a variety of perspectives. Read them all: 

On April 12, 2022, OTL’s virtual birthday party welcomed the open education community. Guests joined us from London, New Zealand, Hawai’i, New York, and points in between to raise a toast and celebrate! 

 

Earleen Warner of Bethel University and Elizabeth Clarage of CARLI won the event’s trivia challenge, tying for top honors and social media bragging rights.

 

The hour-long program also included reflections, thank yous, and brief presentations by OEN staff and community on “Why 10 Years Matters” and “Planning the Next 10 Years.” Responding to feedback, we’ve already implemented two suggestions: 1) search results now include copyright year, publisher, and license, and 2) book records now feature a “Contribute to this Page” section where you can suggest an edit or missing content.

Guests were also treated to birthday party favors - OTL badges that show support for the library and raise awareness of the open education community’s work to make higher education more equitable. We encourage you to choose the badge that best identifies your role in our collaborative effort and show it off!


Consider adding the badge to your website, email signature, social posts, or virtual meeting backgrounds. Browse the selection and download your badge. You can also find ideas, suggested text, and helpful tips for using your badges in this Google Doc. 

We also designed Zoom virtual background images to bring a playful, fun vibe to our event and to offer the community for use year-round. You're welcome to download your favorite(s) and use them during virtual meetings as a visible expression of advocacy for the library, OER, and open education. 

While celebrating a decade of progress, the library coincidentally realized yet another significant milestone in 2022. The collection topped 1,000 textbooks in March with the addition of  “Botany in Hawai’i.” The book is co-authored by Daniela Dutra Elliott and Paula Mejia Velasquez of Leeward Community College. 

Steady growth continues, and as of June 2022 the collection includes 1,036 open textbooks, all available to higher education students at no cost.
 

Merinda McLure, OER Co-Lead and Health & Human Sciences Librarian at the University of Colorado Boulder, described the library as a “critical gift” to the open education movement. “It has been exciting to watch the Open Textbook Library’s continuing development,” said McLure, “and it is difficult to describe adequately the central importance of the library to supporting educators’ adoption, adaptation, and creation of open textbooks across higher education institutions.”

 

At the Open Education Network and Open Textbook Library, we are truly grateful to all who helped us reflect on the library’s first 10 years. The library is only possible because of the collaboration of so many. We're looking forward to seeing that teamwork continue to serve the common good in the decade ahead. Thank you!

 

Amanda Goodsett, Cleveland State University

Barb Thees, OEN

Daphne Tseng, College of Eastern Idaho

Jonathan Poritz, Colorado State University

Karen Lauritsen, OEN

Michael Whitchurch, Brigham Young University

Tonia Johnson, OEN