Downloading & Printing (Optional)
Some students prefer a printed textbook. The good news is that with an OER, you have the option of printing some or all of the textbook, at low cost. Some OER textbooks are even available, in printed format, from sites such as Amazon. OER textbooks are free to access, use and print in any of the above formats for students and faculty use for non-commercial/educational purposes.
If you believe you’d benefit from a print/physical copy of your text, please review the following suggestions:
- Check within your book for PDF options, as many have PDFs that are optimized for printing
- Check your syllabus to see what sections of the book you will need to read
- Print the entire book OR just the sections you need
How to keep your printing costs low – General Tips
- Print only the chapters needed (check your syllabus)
- Check printing costs at a local print shop (Staples, etc)
- Print your textbook in black & white (not full color), and refer to the web-book or PDF where you need to examine the color diagrams or images- this will save considerable money
- Printing a large document is often significantly less expensive at a print shop than it is to print on your home printer or at the library
- Ask about binding or 3 hole punching when you order, as this is usually low cost and will make your textbook easier to use
Remember, OER are free for you to print for your personal use. Printing or purchasing a printed copy of the textbook is optional.
Attribution
Except where otherwise noted, this page by Jen Booth, OER Design Studio at the Georgian College Library is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.