Skip to content

Dec 22

Alverno Open Reserve Textbook Collection

In a recent article in College & Research Libraries News, Alverno College librarian Dolores Skowronek described a new pilot project being undertaken by the library. A recent survey indicated that 62% of Alverno seniors had gone without a textbook due to cost. The library wanted to try to help students with textbook affordability.

As Skowronek points out, “offering Open Educational Resources (OER) and other textbook alternatives would be ideal, however, advocating for campus-wide acceptance and implementation of OER can be a lengthy and time-consuming process.” So, in order to offer immediate relief from the financial burden of expensive textbooks, Alverno librarians chose to offer a physical textbook collection.

We think this is a great idea worth sharing. While WiLS is strongly in favor of OER initiatives, we recognize that there can be obstacles to implementation. Skowronek’s article details their process in building this collection as a step in the right direction towards helping students with this urgent need. It’s also yet another great example of just how important the campus library is!

Dec 21

Roundup of Statewide Textbook Affordability Initiatives

Library Collaborations AND Open Educational Resources? There’s so much here to love! In a recent Library Journal article, Steven Bell identified just a few of the exciting initiatives being undertaken in other states to promote state-wide acceptance of open educational resources. It’s a quick but inspiring read with ample links to the initiatives themselves. It’s certainly worth reading as similar conversations are happening here in Wisconsin.

Dec 20

OCUL Whitepaper on Open Educational Resources

The Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) recently announced the availability of its white paper on Open Educational Resources (OER).

The white paper was written in response to increasing OCUL membership interest in OER and potential roles for libraries in this endeavour. From September 2016 until October 2017, an OCUL OER working group undertook an environmental scan and analysis of current activities in open education publishing in North America, with a focus on the province of Ontario.

The white paper focuses on the current teaching and learning environment for both university students and faculty; an environmental scan of national and international OER initiatives among libraries; survey results and analysis of OER as carried out by OCUL member libraries; and a primer on OER and open publishing terminology.

You may read more about this initiative, plus download a copy of the white paper, from the project webpage on the OCUL website.

Dec 19

New Vendor Partner: ALA Publishing

WiLS is delighted to announce a new vendor partnership with ALA Publishing to bring you Booklist Online!

For over 100 years, Booklist Publications has written concise, easy-to-read, non-biased, reviews of books for librarians. They use Booklist to decide which newly published titles to buy for their patrons to read, listen to, and most importantly – enjoy. Their expert reviews of books for youth through adult will save WiLS members time and money because they evaluate and only recommend titles that will contribute to their collections. They offer unlimited-use institutional access to www.BooklistOnline.com, with over 20 years of searchable reviews in its database, plus 22 digital replica issues of Booklist per year.

WiLS members stand to save from 20% to 50% off, depending on the number of subscribers. ALA Publishing is eager to offer free trials, demos and webinars to help members see just how valuable the resource could be. We’ll announce a webinar soon, but in the meantime, contact Jeff Brunner () for pricing or trial information today!

Dec 15

Celebrating Atlas Systems, Inc. and Recorded Books: 1000 Days on The Medalist List

Two WiLS vendor partners, Atlas Systems, Inc. and Recorded Books, have spent 1000 days on WiLS’ Medalist List, the list of our vendor partners who have kept their yearly price increases at or below 3%. And these two vendors are Gold vendors, which means they have kept their increase at or below 1%. 1000 days! That’s two years, eight months, and nine days without asking more than a one percent increase on yearly subscription renewals.

From all of us here at WiLS, thank you. We deeply value these vendors’ commitment to helping our cooperative purchasing service members afford the information resources their communities need. Read more

Nov 27

Advocacy Alert: Net Neutrality

[From ALA’s Take Action For Libraries]

What Happened:

The day before Thanksgiving, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Pai publicly shared his plan to dismantle network neutrality protections approved by the FCC in 2015 and affirmed by the federal appeals court in 2016. The new draft order is scheduled to be voted on by the five FCC commissioners on December 14. Read more

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →