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Open Educational Resources and Affordable Learning

A guide to discovering, evaluating, and using low cost textbooks and other course materials.

Course or Subject Guides

Librarians create Research Guides for SUNY Oneonta disciplines and subjects to provide selected best resources and tips for doing effective research and discovering articles, books, and more. We can work with faculty to develop customized Course Guides. 

Library Resources as Course Materials

Library resources are another option for course materials that are freely available to students and faculty. These can include eBooks, streaming video and journal articles. Explore the links in this guide and contact your librarian for more information.

Database Content for Course Materials

These research databases can be used for  alternative/ affordable course content — free or low-cost alternatives to high-cost educational resources. This includes course modules, textbooks, videos, tests, journal articles, assessment tools, and any other materials used to support learning.

Looking for a specific book, article, or other item? Try Simple Search

E-Books for Course Content

Begin discovering eBooks using eBooks Search Everything.  eBook collections can be browsed through various subscription databases, linked below.

Streaming Video for Course Content

Use library-licensed resources

Information about using Library-licensed Resources in Courses

The Milne Library purchases and subscribes to electronic resources including online journals, eBooks, and research databases. These resources are governed by license agreements, most of which allow the licensed material to be used for educational purposes by "authorized users." Authorized users are typically defined as Oneonta students, faculty, staff, and and walk-in users of the library. 

Most license agreements allow authorized users to:

  • Download, print, and save single copies of items for their personal use
  • Incorporate links to items in electronic course packs, reserves and course management systems, and instructor websites
  • Provide single print or electronic copies of individual items to other authorized users for noncommercial educational purposes (including to each student in a class at Oneonta).
  • Provide single print or electronic copies of individual items to third-party colleagues for scholarly, educational, or research use

Using library-licensed resources for online courses avoids the need to perform fair use analysis or to seek permission from rightsholders.

When using library-licensed resources, be sure to:

  • Use the link to the resource provided in Milne Library Search, located below. This will ensure that students who are off-campus can access the material.
  • Alternatively, consider submitting your materials to the library's electronic Course Reserves and we'll double check your links and make all your digital course materials available in one place!
  • Use the materials for courses offered through SUNY Oneonta only.