The issue of textbook affordability and the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) represent a new opportunity for libraries to help students save money and achieve improvements in academic performance. Although OER have been a part of the education landscape for several years, many instructors have not yet adopted them as part of their educational practice. Libraries have a key role to play in the emerging landscape of OER and textbook affordability.
Workshop Goals
Trainer: Rebel Cummings-Sauls, Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative
Rebel Cummings-Sauls serves as the Director of Digital Services and Open Educational Resources for the Florida Academic Library Services Cooperative. Ms. Cummings-Sauls joined the statewide organization on April 1, 2018 bringing more than 10 years of experience in higher education, with over six years in academic research libraries, to her new role. Previously, she was the Director of the Center for the Advancement of Digital Scholarship for Hale Library at Kansas State University. At Kansas State she served as a partner on the Open/Alternative Textbook Initiative. Prior to her appointment to Kansas State in 2015, she served more than three years as a Library Operations Coordinator for the Tampa Library at the University of South Florida. From 2008 to 2011, she held positions in the Office of Distance Learning (formerly Academic Programs and Professional Services) at Florida State University.
A graduate of Florida State University, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Studies in 2002 and her Master of Science in Library and Information Studies degree, with specializations in leadership, web design, and technology/networking, in 2010. She attended the Leadership Institute for Academic Librarians at Harvard University in 2015.
Cost: NEFLIN classes are free of charge for Florida library staff. Registration is required for all classes and NEFLIN members get priority.