Nation's Largest Free and Low-Cost Textbook Showcase Launches at 13 California State... -- LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --

"Thirteen California State University (CSU) libraries announced today the nation's largest coordinated library showcase to increase the usage of open educational resources (OER) textbooks—high-quality, free and low cost digital and print textbook options.  The library initiative will display Rice University-based OpenStax College textbooks for the Spring 2015 term and is funded by the Gary Michelson Twenty Million Minds Foundation (20MM), which seeds technologies to lower the cost of education.  The combined participating CSU campus libraries represent more than 285,000 students and more than 60 percent of CSU enrollment.  With professor implementation, combined savings for students could reach into the millions of dollars. Across the nation, textbook prices have dramatically increased in the past 10 years, and can cost several hundred dollars per book. As a result, some students are not purchasing their textbooks or they are taking fewer courses. OpenStax College textbooks, which are free online and low-cost in print, have already saved students more than $30 million. Instructors have adopted OpenStax College textbooks for use in more than 1,100 courses worldwide over the past two years. The campus libraries are highlighting the exploration of OpenStax College textbooks and encouraging faculty to review and evaluate these crucial resources. The collection of high-quality print textbooks is free to participating libraries and is an innovative program to promote awareness and encourage adoption of high quality, affordable resources for higher education.  For the CSU library initiative, 20MM funded and collaborated with OpenStax College to provide rotating displays, copies of the published books and literature with information on digital offerings and supplemental materials ..."