Vol. 11 No. 2 (2026): Journal of New Librarianship
Essays and Opinion Pieces

Beyond the “New Normal”: A Four-Year Reflection on Textbook Access, Affordability, and Open Education Library Services

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Michelle Brailey
University of Alberta
Sonya Betz
University of Alberta
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33011/newlibs/21/12

Published 2026-08-12

Keywords

  • open education,
  • course materials,
  • textbook affordability

How to Cite

Brailey, M., & Betz, S. (2026). Beyond the “New Normal”: A Four-Year Reflection on Textbook Access, Affordability, and Open Education Library Services. Journal of New Librarianship, 11(2), 148–151. https://doi.org/10.33011/newlibs/21/12

Abstract

This piece looks back on a column we wrote in 2022, reflecting upon our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic called “A Sustainable Way Forward: A Team-based Approach to Tackling Textbook Access and Affordability Issues During the “New Normal.” We highlight some of the changes, good and bad, that have emerged following the pandemic, including our institution’s growing recognition of the value of reducing the costs of course materials for students alongside the challenges of increasingly restricted access to print textbooks and the broader trend of publishers moving towards flat-fee textbook access fees.

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