Community College Open Textbook Collaborative Lens

Lens by: Judy Baker

CCOT Project Open Textbook Review Policy

Criteria for Selection of Open Textbooks for Review

July 21, 2008

Principal Criteria

Readership Level: The subject matter is presented primarily at a reading level appropriate for undergraduate use, including community and two year colleges.

Content: The content of the work complements the undergraduate curriculum and is suitable for use in college courses.

Quality: The authors or producers display command of the subject matter, and the material is presented in a comprehensive, well-organized, and understandable manner.

Authorship: The author(s) is a recognized expert in the open textbook subject matter. Some evidence of recognized expert status includes employment at an educational institution as a faculty member, or authorship of a published textbook that has previously been adopted for college-level course use, among others.

Technical Considerations: The content is available in accessible, electronic formats.

Availability: The open textbook content is available for fair use under an open license without cost or site registration.

General Publication Criteria

Language: Only English-language publications are reviewed at this time.

Review Copy: The CCOT Project reviews only the finished version of a work, not a prepublication form such as page proofs, or beta test versions for electronic products.

Criteria Specific to Electronic Resources Comparative Formats: The CCOT Project reviews resources available only in electronic format as well as electronic resources that have print counterparts.

Currency and Updates: The open textbook should show evidence that, when necessary and appropriate, the author(s) plans to update regularly.

Hardware and Software: Technical requirements of an open textbook should be compatible with standard and commonly available hardware/software in college campus student computer labs.

Stability of Content: There should be evidence that an electronic open textbook is available from an Internet site is stable in content and format. No beta versions (open textbooks still in development) will be reviewed; only finished open textbooks ready for use will be considered.

(Adapted from ALA Choice Selection Policy at http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/choice/selectionpolicy/criteriaselection.cfm)

Reviews of Open Textbooks:

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