When COVID-19 shut down in-person library programs, the Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) assembled  a hub of open-access lesson plans to help learning continue in new places. One of those places was the worm bin, where kids can learn about food waste through an open-access lesson plan linked on their website. 

EPFL librarians applied for a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to create a repository of open educational resources (OER): teaching and learning tools, including curricula and textbooks, that can be shared, remixed, and adapted. “Worm herding” is only one example of how public libraries can open doors to a world of educational resources that are otherwise locked behind proprietary licenses. 

Outside of successful examples like the EPFL’s IMLS-funded Make-IT Place, OER in public libraries have been notably overlooked. Library Futures's new research report, “Keeping an Open Mind: Awareness, Use, and Perspectives of OER in Public Libraries,” takes a first look at how public librarians are using and perceiving OER.

Library Futures surveyed public librarians about their use and awareness of OER via the Public Library Association (PLA) mailing list from January - March 2024 and received 107 usable responses. Our flagship survey revealed that public librarians are very interested in OER, but many lack the resources, education, or support to bring interest into action. 

Respondents’ interest in OER was extremely high, with 97% of respondents noting some level of interest in learning more about OER.  That level of interest suggests a rich area for further education, development, and research. 

"I strongly believe that information should be freely and equitably accessible." 
--Study Participant

Despite the high interest levels, only 16% of respondents said their libraries are using OER.  Those uses include linking to OER repositories on library websites, using OER for tech training and programs, and providing lesson plans for in-house educational programming. 

One of the report’s six key takeaways outlines major barriers to OER uptake in public libraries, most prominent being lack of awareness and professional support. If a library has a sufficient collections budget but insufficient staffing, it may be easier to purchase materials than to ask librarians to spend time developing OER collections or educating patrons about their use.

“It is easier with existing processes in place to purchase materials [than use OER]. Our library uses just a fraction of what could be done … We have not done much to teach/provide programming about OER - this is where Public Libraries could help spread knowledge.”
--Study Participant

OER for public libraries is in a similar place to higher education a decade ago: Bay View Analytics (formerly Babson Research Group) has surveyed universities every year since 2009 about OER uptake. The Bay View reports have charted the growth of OER  from a new teaching tool to an increasingly normal part of how we teach and learn—especially in the pandemic online learning era and its aftermath. 

Like Bay View, we want to know more about how OER in public libraries will change over time. A similar annual survey could help spread the word about OER while identifying challenges, trends, and changes. 

As a first look at the state of OER in public libraries in 2024, our report is only the beginning. We hope that its preliminary insights can help open up a world of educational resources, creativity, and learning to build on for the future.

About the Author

Tova Gaster recently graduated with a BA in environmental geography and history from the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on climate (in)justice, specifically corporate influence on environmental monitoring and policy. Having worked in journalism, youth programming, and libraries, she's excited about everything that expands access to information and education, which brings her to Library Futures!