The Affordable UF Libraries Working Group leads the Smathers Libraries’ efforts to engage with textbook and course material affordability initiatives at the local, state and national levels. This includes solutions such as open educational resources, collection development strategy, resource discovery and access, and professional development and training. The Working Group is committed to promoting principles of equity and inclusion, and we believe that affordable course materials are most valuable when they amplify marginalized and antiracist perspectives, ensure accessibility to students with disabilities, and acknowledge the labor of all creators.
Information about the broader Affordable UF initiative is available at affordabletexts.ufl.edu.
Committee Members
- Lauren Adkins
- Perry Collins (co-chair)
- Sheri Edwards (co-chair)
- April Hines
- Micah Jenkins (ex officio)
- Lily Pang
- Patrick Reakes (ex officio)
- Tania M. Ríos Marrero
- Colleen Seale
- Christine Yip
Description of Responsibilities
The Working Group will actively identify and pursue opportunities for the Libraries to advance OER and course affordability efforts and coordinate those efforts with campus collaborators, statewide groups (FALSC/FLVC, universities, colleges, etc.) and national entities (SPARC and others).
Responsibilities of the committee and members include:
- Conduct trainings and workshops
- Participate in tabling promotion, awareness, and fundraising
- Assessment of the campus and Libraries affordability landscape, including reporting at the University, state, and national levels
- Maintain awareness of regional and national affordability trends, initiatives, and legislation
- Provide representation at state level through FALSC OER Standing Committee
- Maintain Affordable UF web presence in partnership with CTE
- Consult with faculty and students about affordable course materials, in partnership with subject liaisons and other campus experts
- Collaborate with instructors to develop and publish open textbooks and course materials
- Investigate and assess viability of funding opportunities around affordability
- Enhance discoverability of open content through library discovery layers
- Leverage user-driven demand to inform collection strategy around textbook and course material acquisitions