Course materials services

The Libraries have a number of ways to help instructors deliver course materials to their students including course reserves, E-text(s), articles, media, open education resources and more. 

Contact coursematerials@umn.edu to request a consultation.

Course materials options

Canvas integration

The University Libraries offers a number of ways to integrate library resources and services into Canvas.  Using library resources in your Canvas course site saves students from paying for materials the Libraries already have available, and it ensures all students have access to the desired material. Learn how to add library resources to your Canvas site.

Instructors also have access to update and modify the Library Course Materials page for their Canvas courses. Please see our Library Course Materials Guide for more information.

Course content consultation

Collaborate with the Libraries to find customized course content and materials already purchased through the University Libraries. The Libraries has access to thousands of full-text databases, journals, and e-books that can easily be added to your course environment. Use library content to save students money.

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Open Educational Resources (OER)

Open textbooks and open education resources

We can help you find freely available and openly licensed open textbooks and open educational resources for your course.

Partnership for Affordable Learning Materials (PALM) grants

At the University Libraries, we have been working to increase the use of open textbooks, OER, and affordable course materials. Now, we are offering Partnership for Affordable Learning Materials (PALM) grants of up to $10,000 to faculty, instructors, and departments who will work with us to provide affordable course materials to our students, including creating new open textbooks or adopt/adapt and improve existing ones.

Learn more about PALM grants

Pressbooks

Pressbooks is simple self-service book production software. You can use Pressbooks to publish openly textbooks, syllabi, modules, and other course materials in multiple formats. You already have access to this tool by logging in with your U of M Internet ID and password. Pressbooks also makes it easy to publish your content with a Creative Commons license.

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Affordable Learning & Open Education (ALOE)

ALOE is the University Libraries department that helps students and instructors with course materials such as ebooks, articles, book chapters, streaming media, and more. ALOE coordinates an overall strategy for integrated course content, expansion of use of affordable and open course materials by instructors and students, and the Libraries role with learning analytics. 

This includes:

  • managing the Library Course Materials page in Canvas, 
  • coordinating outreach about affordable content options, 
  • developing open textbooks and OER, and
  • encouraging use of Libraries licensed and acquired content for courses.

ALOE also works in collaboration with internal and external groups such as the U of M Bookstores, OIT, Academic Technology and Support Services, the Open Education Network, related groups in Unizin, and Minitex.

Contact ALOE at coursematerials@umn.edu

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