State Library of Pennsylvania: More than $120,000 Awarded to Support Open and Affordable Learning Across the Commonwealth

"The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL), along with the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI), today announced that more than $120,000 has been awarded to 33 projects at institutions of higher education through the second round of Pennsylvania Grants for Open and Affordable Learning (PA GOAL).

“One of the best ways we can support learners is through forming partnerships that can drive targeted funding and resources where they’re needed, and the PA GOAL program creates access in areas with specific needs,” said Acting Deputy Secretary and State Librarian for the Office of Commonwealth Libraries Susan Banks. “This will make a real difference for educators and learners in communities across the commonwealth, and OCL is proud to support this impactful initiative.”

During this round, $129,366 was awarded to fund projects in three categories. Seventeen will result in the redesign of one or more courses to use open or zero-cost materials in lieu of traditional textbooks; 11 will result in the creation of new, openly licensed textbooks or other course materials like homework sets, lecture slides, or course modules for a learning management system; and five will reimburse the costs of library-licensed materials adopted to replace student-purchased materials for courses to be taught in the coming academic year. ..."