Guest post by Steven Bell, Associate University Librarian, and Natalie Flynn, Associate Professor of Instruction in Earth and Environment Sciences

Temple University Libraries is partnering with faculty member Natalie Flynn to ignite more faculty engagement in textbook affordability initiatives by recruiting them as peer advisors, creating a vibrant community focused on accessible education materials and resources. 

Temple University Libraries is committed to achieving affordable and equitable access to learning materials for our students. In support of that goal, we engage in multiple initiatives designed to support faculty who seek to lower or eliminate the cost of course materials for their classes. Faculty typically accomplish this by adopting zero-cost materials in lieu of traditional, costly commercial textbooks. Zero-cost content can include sources such as open educational materials, library ebooks, free web content, etc. 

One of our most enduring and successful programs is the Textbook Affordability Project (TAP), an annual invitation to faculty to submit proposals for an award that supports their effort to transition from commercial textbooks and other potentially expensive course materials to those available at no cost to students. Since 2011, approximately 10 faculty members are selected each year to receive this award. Our latest cohort includes 8 faculty representing CLA, Law, CPH, Social Work, CST, CEHD and TUJ. 

Natalie Flynn, Associate Professor of Instruction in Earth and Environment Sciences (EES), is a past TAP participant. Flynn, honored with awards in 2016 and 2018, is dedicated to course materials affordability for Temple students. After learning that a significant number of students in her courses neglected to purchase the textbook, Flynn surveyed students and found that many simply could not afford it and chose to participate without the textbook. That lack of equitable access drove Flynn to work with Temple Libraries, using TAP awards to identify learning materials that would be free and accessible to all students on the first day of class. 

Observing the positive impact this change had for her students’ engagement with the course materials, Flynn began to adopt Open Educational Resources (OER) in her other courses. Flynn has been a pioneering advocate for textbook affordability, strategically eliminating high-cost textbooks from her courses and collaborating with Temple’s North Broad Press to develop two open geology lab manuals. Her efforts extend beyond personal course design, as she actively works to promote zero-cost materials adoption throughout her entire department. In time, more courses in EES transitioned to zero-cost learning materials for students, especially in the GenEd science courses and several courses that appeal to non-Earth Science majors.      

Flynn, a member of Temple University’s Textbook Task Force, came to the group in spring 2024 with an idea to expand what was accomplished in EES across all schools and colleges. That led to the formation of a new initiative, the Faculty Peer-to-Peer OER Advisors. To find and assemble the first cohort of advisors, Flynn reached out to all the prior TAP recipients, those who volunteer to serve as peer advisors are prepared to assist other faculty with textbook affordability strategies. As needed, advisors can also call on Temple Libraries’ subject specialist librarians for additional support and assistance.  

Members of the peer faculty group are supportive of all types of course materials. Since acceptable OER materials are not yet available for all courses, advisors can point their academic colleagues to library-licensed resources such as ebooks and articles and can communicate with librarians about possible purchases. In cases where it is not possible to eliminate all costs for course materials, peer advisors can help decrease these costs by recommending a mix of cost and zero-cost content. 

According to Flynn, the goal is to connect individual faculty, departments and colleges with library specialists who have considerable knowledge of OER. Peer advisors also work with the campus store to ensure students are aware of course material costs to ensure students have accurate information about the cost of course materials at the time of registration. The sense of community built through peer collaboration often leads to increased participation in textbook affordability initiatives, creating a ripple effect that can drive broader adoption and improvement of zero-cost materials across disciplines. 

“The peer advisors met as a group for the first time in November,” Flynn said. “And I was excited by their enthusiasm for this project and their eagerness to start engaging with their colleagues in the spring 2025 semester to create awareness about OER and other no-cost course material options”. 

We asked the advisors why they chose to join and support their fellow faculty in this capacity. Several peer advisors have commented on the cost burden to their students, the inequity of some students doing without learning materials and a strong commitment to quality learning materials. Many of the peer advisors are aware that they and their colleagues would like to explore lowering the cost of learning materials but are unsure of where to start. The peer advisor group is determined to provide the link between the highly trained library specialists and each college and department faculty looking for that support.  

Peer advisors are available to present at faculty meetings on course material affordability issues and strategies, can provide one-on-one consultations, assist with identifying and locating no-cost materials. To be paired with a peer advisor or to learn more about becoming one, contact Natalie Flynn or Steven Bell.