Promoting open texts: self-promotion

Here are some practical steps you can take right now to promote your open text:

🌱 Align with the SDGs

If your open textbook supports one or more Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), increase its visibility by submitting it to the Sustainability and Resilience 2030 Decadal Strategy portal^[1].

When completing the online submission form, you’ll be asked to upload a tile image or short video:

• Image: .jpg, .jpeg, or .png format, max. 25MB
• Video: Max. 300 seconds, max. 1000MB

This helps position your work within WSU’s strategic sustainability initiatives.

📊 Track Engagement with Altmetrics

Use Altmetric Explorer^[2] to monitor how your open textbook is being shared and discussed online^[3], including across social media, news outlets, blogs, and policy documents.

To track engagement:

• Ensure your book has a persistent identifier, such as a Digital Object Identifier (DOI).
• Use the DOI (e.g., https://doi.org/10.26183/rdpk-9z71) in all your online promotions.
• This will support proper citation and help boost the visibility, attention, and impact of your work.

The Scholarly Publishing Consultant will arrange a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for your open textbook.

📈 Add Altmetrics to Your Academic Profile

Altmetric Explorer enables you to generate a summary of engagement that can be used in:

• Academic CVs
• Promotion and grant applications
• Research impact narratives

To use Altmetric Explorer:

• Create a free personal account
• Log in to search your textbook by title or DOI
• For example, search Customer Insights^[4] to view online activity for the open textbook by Aila Khan

For further support, contact the Scholarly Publishing Consultant^[5].

Add the text to your ORCID record

Add your work to your ORCID record. An ORCID iD (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a unique, persistent identifier that ensures your name is reliably and permanently linked to your scholarly activities—across publications, grants, education, employment, and more.

Maintaining an up-to-date ORCID record helps you showcase your research, streamline grant applications, and improve discoverability throughout your academic career.

Need assistance setting up a free ORCID account? Contact your School Librarian^[6] for support.

Promoting open texts: channels and strategies

Promoting open texts effectively requires a multifaceted strategy that engages educators, students, and key stakeholders across the educational landscape. In Australia, this involves a targeted approach that leverages national networks, institutional platforms, and international visibility channels.

Below are some of the most effective Australian and international avenues for promoting open texts.

1. Online Platforms

These online platforms are valuable hubs for educators, students, and stakeholders seeking to discover, create, and promote open educational resources (OER), including textbooks. They support collaboration, resource sharing, and advocacy for open education principles and practices.

You can explore additional platforms and tools in the Open Educational Resources (OER)^[7] guide.

• • Mason OER Metafinder^[8]: Mason OER Metafinder is a real-time federated search for OER content across +20 resources. It searches well-known OER repositories like OpenStax^[9], OER Commons^[10], MERLOT^[11], but also sites like HathiTrust^[12], DPLA^[13], Internet Archive^[14], and NYPL Digital Collections^[15], where valuable but often overlooked (and often “open”) educational materials may be found.
  • MERLOT^[16]: A curated collection of free and open online teaching, learning, and faculty development services. MERLOT’s textbooks cover various disciplines and are peer-reviewed for quality.
  • OER Commons^[17]: A digital library offering a vast collection of openly licensed resources, including textbooks, lesson plans, and multimedia materials. Educators can search for and contribute to the repository. Includes Pressbooks’ open textbooks.
  • Open Textbook Library^[18]: Open textbooks are licensed by authors and publishers to be freely used and adapted. Download, edit and distribute them at no cost. Open Education Network supports the Open Textbook Library.
  • Directory of Open Access Books (DOAB)^[19]: DOAB is a community-driven discovery service that indexes and provides access to scholarly, peer-reviewed open access books and helps users to find trusted open access book publishers. All DOAB services are free of charge, and all data is freely available.
  • Pressbooks Directory^[20]: Pressbooks Directory is a free, searchable catalogue with +6,000 open access books published by +170 organisations and networks using Pressbooks. Nearly all books are highly accessible, and many include interactive H5P learning activities to engage learners.
  • OpenStax^[21]: Known for its high-quality, peer-reviewed textbooks covering a wide range of subjects. Professors can quickly adapt and customise these textbooks for their courses.

2. Social Media

Social media platforms commonly used by educators, students, and advocates in Australia offer powerful opportunities to raise awareness of open educational resources, including textbooks. By participating in discussions, sharing content, and connecting with like-minded communities, you can extend the impact of your promotional efforts and build broader support for open education.

• • X^[22] (formerly Twitter): OpenStax (@OpenStax^[23]) regularly shares updates about new textbooks, success stories, and events related to open education.
  • LinkedIn^[24]: Groups like “Open Education Network (OEN)^[25]” provide a platform for educators and advocates to discuss open textbooks and share resources.
  • Facebook^[26]: Groups such as the “Open Education Research Hub^[27]” facilitate discussions and collaborations among educators interested in adopting and promoting open textbooks.

3. Educational Websites and Blogs

• • Creative Commons Australia^[28]: Creative Commons Australia offers information and resources on open licensing, including guidance on how educators and authors can license their textbooks for open use. Their website and blog feature articles and case studies highlighting open education initiatives in Australia.
  • OER Collective^[29]: Hosted by CAUL (Council of Australian University Librarians), this website offers a collection of Australia-centric peer-reviewed open textbooks.
  • Open Textbook Library^[30]: This website is hosted by the University of Minnesota. It offers a collection of peer-reviewed open textbooks covering various subjects.
  • BCcampus Open Education^[31]: BCcampus offers free open textbooks to post-secondary institutions in British Columbia, Canada, and maintains a blog that features updates and success stories related to open education initiatives.
  • OE Global^[32]: Their blog highlights news, events, and resources related to open education, including open textbooks.

4. Email Newsletters

• • Open Education News | OE Global^[33]: Although not explicitly focused on Australia, the Open Education Global newsletter provides updates on open education initiatives worldwide, including developments in Australia related to open textbooks and resources.
  • OpenStax Newsletter^[34]: Subscribers receive updates on new textbooks, partnerships, and success stories from the OpenStax community.
  • SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) News^[35]: SPARC provides updates on open education advocacy efforts, including initiatives to promote open textbooks.

5. Conferences and Workshops

Participating in conferences and events focused on educational technology and learning design provides opportunities to showcase open textbooks and discuss their benefits with educators and instructional designers.

• • ASCILITE Conference^[36]: The annual ASCILITE Conference brings together educators, researchers, and digital learning professionals from across Australasia to share innovations, research, and best practices in technology-enhanced learning and teaching in higher education.
  • MoodleMoot Australia^[37]: A national conference dedicated to exploring the use of Moodle in education. It gathers educators, developers, and administrators to explore new features, share case studies, and discuss strategies for improving teaching and learning through Moodle.
  • International Open Access Week^[38]: A global event held annually in October to promote open access to research. It highlights the benefits of free and immediate online access to scholarly outputs, encouraging collaboration and transparency in research and publishing.
  • OERxDomains Conference^[39]: Although an international conference, OERxDomains offers Australian educators and advocates the opportunity to engage with the global open education community, share experiences, and learn about best practices for promoting open textbooks and resources.
  • OpenEd Conference^[40]: An annual event focused on open education, featuring presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities for educators, librarians, and policymakers.

6. Collaboration with Institutions

• • Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)^[41]: CAUL plays a pivotal role in advocating for open access and open educational resources within the Australian higher education sector. Partnering with CAUL can facilitate access to university libraries and their resources, promoting the use of open textbooks.
  • State and Territory Libraries: State and territory libraries, such as the State Library of New South Wales and the State Library of Victoria, serve as essential hubs for promoting open access to educational resources. Collaborating with these libraries can facilitate the discovery and dissemination of open textbooks to a broader audience.
  • Open Universities Australia (OUA)^[42]: OUA is a leading online education provider in Australia, offering a platform for promoting open textbooks to a broad audience of students and educators. Collaborating with OUA can help integrate open textbooks into their course offerings and raise awareness among their student base.
  • Australian National University (ANU)^[43]: ANU has been involved in initiatives to create and promote open educational resources, including textbooks. The ANU Press offers a collection of open-access scholarly works, some of which may include textbooks or educational materials.
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst^[44]: The Open Education Initiative at UMass Amherst promotes the adoption of open textbooks and offers grants to faculty who redesign their courses to use open educational resources.
  • The University of California (UC): The UC launched the Open Access Textbook Project to develop and promote open textbooks for high-demand lower-division courses.

7. Press Releases and Media Coverage

• • Government initiatives: The Australian government occasionally announces funding or support for open education initiatives, including the development and adoption of open textbooks. Press releases from government departments or educational agencies can highlight these efforts and raise stakeholder awareness.
  • Rice University^[45]: OpenStax textbooks have garnered media coverage from prominent outlets, including NPR, The New York Times, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, thereby increasing awareness about the affordability and accessibility of open textbooks.
  • British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training^[46]: The British Columbia government, Canada, issued press releases announcing funding initiatives and partnerships to support the adoption of open textbooks in post-secondary institutions.

8. Partnerships with Libraries

Many Australian universities have press and institutional repositories where open textbooks and other educational resources can be hosted and promoted. Partnering with university presses and repositories can help increase the visibility and accessibility of open textbooks within the academic community.

• • Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)^[47]: By participating in CAUL’s online discussions and events, educators and advocates can gain insights into the latest developments and best practices related to open textbooks in the Australian higher education context. Collaborating with CAUL can help leverage the expertise and resources of university libraries to enhance the visibility and accessibility of open textbooks across Australian universities.
  • National Library of Australia^[48]: Although not explicitly focused on textbooks, the National Library of Australia offers access to a vast collection of digital resources, including open-access books and educational materials. Partnering with the library could facilitate the discovery and promotion of open textbooks to a broader audience.
  • Open Textbook Library Partnership^[49]: Libraries across North America, including the University of Minnesota Libraries and the California State University Libraries, partner with the Open Textbook Library to promote open textbooks and support faculty and students.
  • SUNY Open Textbooks^[50]: The State University of New York Libraries collaborate to host and promote open textbooks through the SUNY Open Textbooks initiative.

9. Online Communities

Leveraging online communities frequented by educators, students, and advocates in Australia can help raise awareness and generate interest in open educational resources, including textbooks. Engaging in discussions, sharing resources, and collaborating with like-minded individuals can amplify the reach of promotional efforts.

• • Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL)^[51]: CAUL plays a crucial role in promoting open access initiatives within the Australian higher education sector, including the development of open textbooks. They actively support open-access and open-education initiatives, including the adoption and promotion of open textbooks. Engaging with CAUL’s online community, such as through their website forums or mailing lists, provides opportunities to collaborate with librarians who facilitate access to open textbooks and advocate for their use within institutions, as well as access to a network of institutions, researchers, and policymakers committed to open education initiatives.
  • Open Access Australasia^[52]: This group supports open-access and open-education initiatives in Australia and New Zealand. Engaging with their community and online forums can help connect with educators and advocates interested in open textbooks.
  • Reddit^[53]: Subreddits like r/OpenEd^[54] are dedicated to discussions about open education, including the adoption and creation of open textbooks.
  • Edutopia Community^[55]: Educators on Edutopia’s forums discuss various topics, including the use of open educational resources, such as textbooks.

10. Professional Associations and Networks

Joining professional associations and networks relevant to education and publishing in Australia provides opportunities to connect with key stakeholders and promote open textbooks within the industry.

• • Australian Publishers Association^[56]
  • Australian Council for Educational Research^[57]

11. Word of Mouth

• • Educator Networks: Australian educators often participate in professional networks and associations relevant to their discipline or educational sector. Word-of-mouth recommendations and testimonials from fellow educators can be influential in promoting open textbooks within these networks.
  • Academic Testimonials: Professors who have successfully adopted open textbooks in their courses can share their experiences with colleagues during department meetings or conferences.
  • Student Advocacy: Student organisations and advocacy groups can raise awareness about open textbooks through campus events, social media campaigns, and petitions urging faculty to adopt open resources.