Work is under way in History on an innovative JISC funded Open Access e-textbook, as part of a wider Faculty project to explore the ‘institution as e-textbook creator’.
The e-textbook, Using Primary Sources: A guide for students, will be a three volume textbook under the General Editorship of Jonathan Hogg.
Describing Using Primary Sources, Jonathan says ‘our project involves collaboration between academics, the library, and Liverpool University Press (LUP). Our central aim is to offer students practical advice on the variety of ways they can analyse and then incorporate primary source materials into coursework. The e-textbook will be wide-ranging, accessible and practically focused. We already have 20 authors in the Department of History, and the wider School of Histories, Languages and Cultures, signed up to work on thematic chapters. They will work with library staff in the digitisation and presentation of source materials online via the Biblioboard platform, and then with LUP as we work towards a print publication.
‘Where possible, primary source material refered to in the textbook will emerge from existing History teaching at Liverpool, and collections in the University libraries. In the coming years, this promises to enhance the student experience by offering practical, relevant and accessible advice for students in a way that supports research-led teaching and learning. The Open Access format means that we can explore other possibilities in the future, such as using the resource for outreach activity.’
As a whole, the Faculty project seeks to address some important questions posed by JISC. Does the institution as e-textbook creator help students by providing a more affordable and effective higher education? Does it promote a better, more sustainable information environment for libraries, students and faculty?