Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
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Tools for RDS
Kay Bjornen · Oklahoma State University · 2022
This book was created for people who are new to Research Data Services programs and, as such, covers some basic principles as well as more advanced techniques that can help get an RDS program started at a university library. One of the goals of the “Research as Data-Data as Research” project was creation of a toolkit to provide a step by step guide for libraries, especially those with limited resources, to prioritize needs and create offerings with the assistance of their user communities. This toolkit is a collection of those resources, separated by the phase of the project. It is intended to be an evergreen, open resource. Please feel free to contribute ideas and examples that you think other libraries will benefit from.
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Injustice at the Intersections: Race, Gender, Class, and Criminal Justice
Indigo Koslicki; Andrew Gray · Indigo Koslicki and Andrew C. Gray · 2025
Injustice at the Intersections is the first U.S.-based Open Textbook about race, gender, class, and criminal justice. While traditional textbooks are often expensive and require continuous publication of new editions to keep up with changing legislation and events, we wrote this Open Textbook under a CC BY-NC-SA license, meaning that instructors may revise, update, and change content as needed for changing events and different learning outcomes. We also plan to regularly update this Open Textbook and will always keep it free, as we believe that knowledge is the first step towards justice.
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Multimodal Transportation Planning
Peng Chen, Ph.D.; Tia Boyd; Kristine Williams · Mavs Open Press · 2024
Multimodal Transportation Planning introduces readers to the principles and practice of integrated land use and transportation planning. The primary focus of the textbook is on planning for the mobility needs of all transportation system users, with an emphasis on pedestrian, bicycle, automobile, and transit modes. A related focus is on reducing society’s dependence on the automobile for personal travel. Readers of the text will be able to gain knowledge that supports a variety of learning objectives. Key themes and objectives relate to conveying an understanding of the relationship between land use and transportation, the difference between traditional methods and multimodal planning best practices, and the importance of evaluating performance from an accessibility and quality of service perspective.
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Transportation Policies, Programs and History
Ivonne Audirac; Amber Raley; Jenifer Reiner; Soheil Sharifi-Asl · Mavs Open Press · 2024
This open text features ten chapters addressing leading topics in transportation planning, programs, policies, history and emerging transportation trends.
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The History and Culture of the Standing Rock Oyate
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction · University of North Dakota · 1995
History & Culture of the Standing Rock Oyate is a guide to the Standing Rock nation, past and present. Elders, scholars, and other experts from the nation contributed the content of this book, which was reviewed by Standing Rock Community College and published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) for use in middle and high school North Dakota Studies classes, as well as in higher education. The Standing Rock Reservation (Lakota: Íŋyaŋ Woslál Háŋ) shares geography with southern North Dakota and with South Dakota. The capital of this sovereign nation is Fort Yates.
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The History and Culture of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction · University of North Dakota · 1997
History & Culture of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa is a guide to the Turtle Mountain nation, past and present. Elders, scholars, and other experts from the nation contributed the content of this book, which was reviewed by Turtle Mountain Community College and published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) for use in middle and high school North Dakota Studies classes, as well as in higher education. The Turtle Mountain nation is called Mikinaakwajiw-ininiwag in the Ojibwe language. This sovereign nation’s capital is Belcourt. The Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation shares geography with northern North Dakota, along the border with Canada. The rest of its land base exists as parcels of trust land across Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota, defying easy summarization.
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The History and Culture of the Mni Wakan Oyate (Spirit Lake Nation)
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction · University of North Dakota · 1997
History & Culture of the Mni Wakan Oyate Spirit Lake Nation is a guide to the Spirit Lake nation, past and present. Elders, scholars, and other experts from the nation contributed the content of this book, which was reviewed by Cankdeska Cikana Community College (English: Little Hoop Community College) and published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) for use in middle and high school North Dakota Studies classes, as well as in higher education. The Spirit Lake Nation’s name in the Santee Dakota language is “Mni Wakan Oyate” (also transcribed “Mniwakaƞ Oyate”). The nation was formerly called the Devils Lake Sioux Tribe in various English-language materials. It is comprised of the Pabaksa (Iháŋkthuŋwaŋna), Sisseton (Sisíthuŋwaŋ) and Wahpeton (Waȟpéthuŋwaŋ) bands of the Dakota people. The Spirit Lake Dakota Reservation shares geography with eastern North Dakota, beside Devils Lake. Fort Totten is the capital of this sovereign nation.
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North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction · University of North Dakota · 2015
History & Culture of the Mandan Hidatsa & Sahnish (Arikara) is a guide to the Three Affiliated Tribes nation, past and present. The book is divided into three sections: one for each tribe. Elders, scholars, and other experts from the nation contributed the content of this book, which was reviewed by Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College and published by the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) for use in middle and high school North Dakota Studies classes, as well as in higher education. The MHA nation is known as the following in its languages: Mandan: Miiti Naamni, Hidatsa: Awadi Aguraawi, Arikara: ačitaanu' táWIt. The Fort Berthold Indian Reservation shares geography with western North Dakota, with land on either side of the Missouri River basin. New Town is this sovereign nation’s capital.
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A Casebook for Comparative Politics
Mark Johnson; Angela Pashayan; Daniel Pedreira; Matthew Schuster · Opendora · 2025
This book is intended to serve as a companion text for courses in Comparative Politics, Introduction to Political Science, and similar subjects. The target audience is lower-division undergraduates. Each chapter constitutes a single country (case), with material on seven (7) major topics: History, Identity, Culture and Civil Society, Participation, Formal Institutions, Political Economy, and Foreign Relations.
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The Delft Method for System Dynamics
Willem Auping; Floortje d’Hont; Merla Kubli; Jill Slinger · TU Delft Open · 2024
The Delft Method for System Dynamics (SD) is a proven method for learning basic SD. The method focuses on learning by doing: first you try to work through an exercise, and if you do not understand something, then you can look up the theory. The book contains exercises on topics such as causal loop diagrams, delays, and when SD is an appropriate methodology. It also contains modelling exercises that show students how to build low to medium complexity models, and how to use these models for policy analysis. The theory chapters cover all phases of the modelling cycle: problem articulation, conceptualisation, formulation, evaluation (including validation and scenario analysis), and policy analysis. This book is intended for students and teachers in large or small System Dynamics courses, and for motivated students that want to learn SD at their own pace.
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Transportation Land Use Modeling and Policy (TLUMP)
Qisheng Pan; Soheil Sharifi-Asl · Mavs Open Press · 2024
Transportation Land Use Modeling and Policy is an open educational resource (OER) that offers a thorough exploration of various approaches and frameworks for modeling the complex relationship between land use and transportation, with a focus on scenario-based analysis for issues such as equity, environmental impact, and other critical transportation policies. The textbook begins by providing an overview of the current urban transportation landscape, highlighting ongoing challenges like transportation equity. It then introduces foundational theories related to land use and transportation, setting the stage for an in-depth examination of different modeling approaches. Using case studies and real-world examples, primarily from North America, the book demonstrates how these models explain and predict the relationship between land use (residential, economic, industrial activities) and transportation (accessibility). After reviewing existing integrated land use and transportation models and discussing the future direction of integrated land use and transportation planning, the latter part of the book delves deeper into travel demand modeling (TDM) practices. It highlights traditional methods like the four-step model and provides a brief overview of newer techniques such as activity- based and agent-based models. This textbook is part of a six-volume series produced under the grant OERTransport: Enabling Transportation Planning Professional Advancement awarded to the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA) in consortium with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and the University of South Florida (USF). It was developed under an Open Textbooks Pilot grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, its contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and no endorsement by the Federal Government should be assumed.
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Green Cities and Transportation
Ariadna Reyes; Soheil Sharif-Asl; Ladan Mozaffarian · Mavs Open Press · 2024
This textbook equips advanced undergraduate and graduate students with the knowledge, skills, and multidisciplinary perspectives needed to understand how sustainable mobility and infrastructure can support climate change mitigation and transportation equity for low-income commuters. The textbook is organized into three sections: Sustainability, Transportation Equity, and Planning. Case Studies and Lessons from the North and South. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Cities, and Mobility. It includes eleven chapters, each featuring discussion questions, reading materials, and in-class exercises designed to help students develop a research paper on transportation. This textbook is part of a six-volume series produced under the grant OERTransport: Enabling Transportation Planning Professional Advancement awarded to the University of Texas-Arlington (UTA) in consortium with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and the University of South Florida (USF). It was developed under an Open Textbooks Pilot grant from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education. However, its contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and no endorsement by the Federal Government should be assumed.
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The Mass Media Landscape
Dave Bostwick; Alyssa Riley; Dominique Valle · University of Arkansas · 2024
The Mass Media Landscape is a compilation of lessons to help audiences understand the evolution of U.S. mass media and disruptive media technologies. It includes overviews of media law, media ethics and media literacy. Chapters contain interactive exercises, review quizzes, writing assignments, and multimedia content. Following are four points of emphasis: Media literacy extends beyond the ability to identify misinformation and disinformation or follow reliable news sources. A crucial part of media literacy is understanding mass media history. Media literacy skills help both consumers and professionals create and publish reliable content, including on social media, in an ethical manner and with an understanding of long-term effects and potential consequences. All students, not just those who seek careers in the industry, benefit from learning about media history, media law, media ethics, and media literacy.
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Burning Issues in Classics
Rhiannon Evans; Nicole Gammie · La Trobe University · 2024
This volume addresses various ways that we interact with, refashion and reuse aspects of ancient Greece and Rome. Its studies range from the political engagement of Italian fascists with ancient Rome, to the use of ancient Greece in video games. The chapters each take on a ‘burning issue’ of identity or ownership, that is, how we identify with ancient Greeks and Romans, as well as drawing (often troubling) elements of our identity from them. In addition, they address the question: which of us feel that we own the past? Does Classics belong to everyone, or has it been coopted by an elite few?
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Lifespan Development
Diana Riser; Rose Spielman; David Biek · OpenStax · 2024
Lifespan Development aligns to the topics and objectives of most introductory developmental psychology courses taught across departments. Grounded in foundational theories and scientific research, the text teaches students about core aspects of human development—physical, cognitive, social, emotional—across the lifespan. A primary goal of the book is to incorporate content, scholarship, and activities that explore a variety of perspectives that encourage all students to feel seen and included. Lifespan Development strives to openly address complex topics with scholarly responsibility and an effort to increase equity and inclusion in the research presented, as well as to foster student engagement in the classroom through relevant examples and applications. Focused on driving meaningful and memorable learning experiences, the narrative places concepts in contexts that give students the means to understand human development and how that knowledge can be applied to and improve their own lives and the lives of others.
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Introduction to the Pedagogy of New Literacies and Applied Critical Thinking
Kacy Lovelace · Marshall University · 2024
This textbook is an introduction to information and new literacies instruction in a variety of libraries and other information-related organizations and for a variety of patrons (including K-12, ESL, special needs learners, and adult learners). Topics include the history and theoretical bases of literacy instruction, instructional program development, and pedagogical and evaluation techniques. Featuring hands-on assessments for students pursing an Instructional Technology and Library Science emphasis, this text introduces new literacies, provides a comprehensive look at literacy instruction, literacy instruction improvement, and literacy instruction lesson planning with a focus on critical thinking.
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Digital Cartography
Dorris Scott · Washington University Libraries · 2024
Digital Cartography covers foundational cartographic principles that are needed to make effective maps. lt explores such concepts as data, lettering, along with multivariate and uncertainty visualization. By the end of this book, a reader will be able to: (1) Describe how cartographic concepts such generalization, scale and projection will affect mapping products; (2) Identify the medium, purpose, and spatial data requirements to create a map that is appropriate to a specific audience; (3) Evaluate maps produced by peers and various organizations; and (4) Construct maps that effectively use color, font, and other design elements using ArcGIS Pro.
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The LEARN Method: An Interactive Guide for Effective Learning
Karla Lassonde · Minnesota State Colleges and Universities · 2024
The LEARN Method is a program designed to teach students strategies to improve learning.
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High Impact Instructional Librarianship
Mirah Dow; Amanda Hovious; Corey Ptacek · EdTech Books · 2024
The purpose of this new OER textbook titled High Impact Instructional Librarianship is to address what to teach and how to teach information literacy skills to library patrons of all ages and with many kinds of information needs. This OER is intended to facilitate and guide pre- and in-service librarians to know and use theory and models from many academic disciplines to inform practices, develop excellent instructional design skills, and express high confidence as instructional librarians no matter what position they hold in any library type.
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Comparative Politics: A Practical Guide for a Globalizing World
Holly Oberle; Sadie Kelley; Juston Robson; Trevor Cook · Colorado Mesa University · 2024
Comparative Politics: A Practical Guide for a Globalizing World is perhaps the first to be written with an emphasis on case studies from the Global South and other alternative perspectives in comparative politics. This text focuses on themes and case studies that are often missing in more traditional comparative politics textbooks, and thus is best accompanied by other resources to give students a foundation in the fundamentals.