Several seminars are open for faculty or staff members interested in learning more about how to provide open, affordable textbook solutions to students.

The College Board estimates that the average undergraduate budgeted $1,220 to $1,420 for textbooks and supplies for the 2017-2018 school year. With the cost of textbooks rising at a rate four times inflation, seven out of 10 students are unable to purchase required materials during their academic career.

The seminars, hosted by Successful Teaching with Affordable Resources, are open for registration until Feb. 8. Dates and seminars include:

Training Workshop for Librarians, Instructional Designers, ITS and Staff

9 to 11 a.m. Feb. 21, Love Library, Room 221

This workshop will train staff on how to have conversations about open textbooks with faculty and stimulate further conversations with campus partners. Register here.

Training Workshop for Faculty and Graduate Teaching Assistants

2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 21, Love Library, Room 221

This workshop will help faculty and graduate teaching assistants discover open textbooks in their related fields and adopt them for their courses. After the workshop, instructors will be asked to write a short review of an open textbook from the Open Textbook Library. The review will benefit other faculty considering open textbooks. Instructors will receive a $200 stipend for their participation and written review. Register here.

Both workshops are sponsored by the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, University Libraries and Information Technology Services.

For more information about open textbooks, visit the University Libraries website or contact Charlene Maxey-Harris at cmaxeyharris2@unl.edu.