Amelia Brister, Director of Library and Learning Resources
Monroe- The Library Services Department of Louisiana Delta Community College received $40,000 through the LOUIS Library Consortium's OER Advancement Projects funding initiative. The Director of the Learning Resource Center, Amelia Brister, explains, "These funds will be used for Open Educational Resources. That means resources that are openly licensed and mostly free for student use, such as openly licensed textbooks."
This is significant for numerous reasons. This initiative by LOUIS involves collaborating with libraries and faculty to decrease student expenses on education by lowering the prices of instructional materials through the adoption of Affordable Education Resources (AERs), Open Educational Resources (OERs), and similar open-access materials. Additionally, it guarantees that students can access course materials equitably from the outset of their classes, as textbook delays, often experienced when ordered through bookstores, are mitigated.
Brister also shares, "There's a lack of awareness of OER materials and how to use them, their quality and availability to students. These funds will be used to promote awareness and engage faculty and students in activities that will highlight OER resources." In Spring 2025, LDCC's Library Services Department will host an OER Week at each of its eight campuses. "The idea is to directly engage and educate our students and faculty about what's available to them that is free of charge. We will create a balance of fun and learning at each week-long event. One of the things we have in store for students is that they will be given flash drives to download course materials and take them home, which is beneficial for those experiencing internet challenges. This funding offers us an incredible platform to aid in communicating how important these resources are, what they can do with them, and how powerful they are in the hands of a student," says Brister.
About LDCC
Louisiana Delta Community College, an open-admission, comprehensive community college, provides the citizens of northeast Louisiana with affordable and accessible high-quality educational programs, services, and modern workforce training. Supported by the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, a dedicated faculty and staff fulfill this mission through their commitment to student achievement, academic excellence, lifelong learning, and the use of current technology.
About LOUIS
LOUIS is a library consortium widely recognized as a model for cost-effective collaboration in higher education. We have a centralized organization that works in conjunction with our engaged and active membership to address the common needs of academic libraries in the state of Louisiana. We work to ensure equitable access to resources, services, and technologies by maximizing purchasing power and sharing expertise. We do this to fulfill our mission to support research, teaching, and learning by effectively leveling the playing field for all students and faculty by making resources and technology available anywhere, anytime.