Not all textbooks are available as an etextbook because publishers can maximize profits by selling print books to individual students. Many publishers have opened up access to electronic book collections to help educational institutions through the COVID crisis. If your textbook exists in electronic format - use steps 1-3 to find it and possibly access the content.
- RedShelf and VitalSource are major textbook providers that have opened access to their collections until the end of May 2020. Not all books are free but this may be an option for students to buy or rent their online textbook in this and future semesters. Users must create an account using their Centennial email address. (Please note: these are not library products but end user commercial accounts.)
- Check the publisher website. This is the fastest way of determining if your textbook is available in an online format. There are also many publishers who are making content available for free during the crisis. Check the list of publishers conditions here
- Check the Internet Archive National Emergency Library. You may find an older edition of your textbook here.
If none of the options above have worked search for Library materials and Open Educational Resources (OER) to replace your textbook content. This often involves finding readings from several sources and linking them in your eCentennial course.
- Search Open Educational Resource (OER) repositories for open textbooks, lesson plans, and exercises that you may want to use in your course. The authors of OERs have given permission to use their work for free - and in many cases you can adapt the work.
- Search Library resources for full-text online articles, books, and videos. Use the guide for stable links to create links to add in your eCentennial course. Take advantage of the eReserves service through the library to manage your links.
