Open textbooks
What is an Open Educational Resource (OER)?
Open Educational Resources are educational materials licenced in ways that allow us to legally and freely copy, use, adapt and re-share them. OERs include courses, textbooks, assignments, tests, projects, software, audio, video and animation. (Sources: UNESCO and Open Education Resource Foundation)
What is an open textbook?
A type of OER licenced under an open copyright licence and made freely available (in digital or print formats) for anyone to read and share. Depending on the type of licence that has been applied, open textbooks can also be adapted, modified and re-published.
Grant funding
Why is this funding program available?
The Library is committed to three priority areas relating to open textbooks:
- improving the student experience by providing access to low-cost learning resources.
- delivering value to the Library’s collection budget for learning resources by providing an alternative to commercially published textbooks.
- encouraging cross-faculty and institutional collaborations on open publishing projects for mutual benefit.
The grant program supports these priorities by providing authors with a stipend to assist with the costs of developing open textbooks for UQ courses.
How much funding is available?
The Library supports 15 grant-funded projects each year.
Strategic grant
- Create an open textbook suitable for a large-cohort course, multiple courses, or one focusing on topics strategically important to UQ.
- Grant amount: $6,000
- Number of grants available: 4.
Create an open textbook
- Create an open textbook for your course.
- Grant amount: $4000
- Number of grants available: 6
Adapt an open textbooks
- Substantially adapt an existing textbook to your instructional needs.
- Grant amount: $2,000.
- Number of grants available: 5.
Funds may be used to cover any costs associated with producing your book, including professional copy editing and the development of ancillary resources.
When will the funding be made available?
Half of the funding will be paid to you at the commencement of the project. The remaining half of the grant will be paid midway through the project.
What can the grant funding be used for?
The Open Textbooks @ UQ grant funding is designed to compensate authors for the time invested in developing an open textbook and may be used to cover some of the costs incurred, such as proofreading and editing or creating supplementary materials.
What will not be accepted for the grant funding?
- Incorporating an existing open textbook into a course without substantial adaption and additional content.
- Open textbook projects that have already been completed.
- Creation of open textbooks for commercial publication or profit.
- Creation of open textbooks without a Creative Commons licence applied that allows derivatives.
- Open textbooks not intended for use by students.
Applying for the Open Textbooks @ UQ grant
What is the application process?
Complete and submit a grant application form. We will assess your application and contact you to discuss your project further. If approved, you will be sent an invitation to create an account in Pressbooks and documentation to assist you with developing your open textbook. The Library will provide support if you need it.
Can I apply for more than one grant?
Yes. If you are unsure which grant is best check with the Library at pressbooks@library.uq.edu.au.
When will successful applicants be notified?
You can apply for an Open Textbooks @ UQ grant from April to May and October to November. Applications will be considered at the end of May and November, and applicants will be advised of the outcome.
If I am successful, what is required?
Grant-funded projects should:
- undergo a peer review process
- be published on the Library’s publishing platform Open Textbooks @ UQ within 12 months of grant approval
- use a Creative Commons licence. The Creative Commons licence should allow derivatives
- be implemented in your course for at least two semesters
- be reviewed each semester to ensure currency
Read Author and publisher responsibilities for further information about requirements.
Creating your Pressbook
Do I need experience with using Pressbooks?
No. We can help you to get started using the platform. The Library will provide technical support, including assistance with creating interactive content, accessibility, copyright, and metadata. Help guides and resources are available:
- UQ Open Textbooks Author Guide has information on getting started, adding content and requirements for publishing.
- Pressbooks User Guide provides detailed instructions for all aspects of book creation for this platform.
Where do I log in to create my Pressbook?
UQ’s Pressbooks site is located at uq.pressbooks.pub.
You will be sent an invitation to edit your book once it has been created.
My manuscript is already written in Word. Can I upload this file to Pressbooks?
You can copy each chapter into Pressbooks or import a Word document. Alternatively, we can help you add your content to the platform.
Will the Library provide editing and proofreading services?
No, these aspects of your project are not supported by the Library, however if you are the recipient of a grant, you may allocate a portion of your funding for this purpose.
The Library will check your Pressbook before publication to ensure copyright and accessibility requirements have been met.
Copyright
What do I need to consider about copyright?
It is important to ensure that you have the appropriate rights to all the content you plan to include in your Pressbooks publication.
Visit copyright and intellectual property for further details.
Publishing your Pressbook
How soon will I have to complete my project?
Ideally, you will complete the open textbook within 12 months of being appointed a grant.
What do I have to do before publication?
Review the author and publisher responsibilities to ensure you have completed all the requirements:
- your book has undergone a peer-review process
- all contributors have signed an author agreement and you have returned them to the Library.
- your content is accessible.
- your content meets copyright requirements.
Please notify the Library at pressbooks@library.uq.edu.au one month before publication to allow enough time for content checking to occur.
How can I get an ISBN for my book?
The Library will arrange an ISBN, which will be discussed with you as part of the project.
How can I get a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for my book?
The Library can mint a DOI for works published in Open Textbooks @ UQ that are deposited into UQ eSpace.
How will my published book be made available to students?
Students can access your book through their course reading list. It will also be available via Open Textbooks @ UQ and Library Search.
You can also embed your book in your Learn.UQ (Blackboard) course site.
More information about Pressbooks
Where can I find out more about OER and open textbooks?
Please refer to our Open EducationalResources (OER) guide or contact your librarian.
Who can I contact with any questions?
Please get in touch with the Library’s Digital Learning team at pressbooks@library.uq.edu.au.