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Open textbooks - finding and using

This guide provides resources for finding open textbooks as well as information on how to adapt them to coursework.

Faculty Resources

Interested in using an open textbook? This guide can help you get started:

Alternately, assemble a set of open resources based on your course content and structure.

See example from McGill's MATH 141 course. 

 

Understanding licenses and copyright

Most open textbooks will be licensed under a Creative Commons license. These licenses permit varying levels of reuse, adaptation, and distribution rights. 

Below is a chart to help you navigate what the licenses mean.

All licenses permit linking to, downloading, copying, and using the book provided you give credit to the original author.

License Commercial use ok? Can modify and adapt?
CC BY Yes. Yes. So long as you provide credit to the author.
CC BY SA Yes. Yes. Provided new work is also licensed CC BY SA and you provide credit to the author.
CC BY NC No. Yes. So long as you provide credit to the author. 
CC BY ND Yes. No. 
CC BY NC SA No.

Yes. Provided new work is also licensed CC BY NC SA and

you provide credit to the author. 
CC BY NC ND No. No.

Still unsure about the usage and adaptation rights of a particular book? Contact us. 

McGill Library • Questions? Ask us!
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