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OER Project Management: Publishing in stages

Guidance for creating or adapting OER at Charles Sturt, centred on Pressbooks but applicable to other formats.

Guidelines for developing and publishing OER in stages

Publishing OER chapters incrementally can be an effective way to manage workload and engage with users throughout the development process. Platforms like Pressbooks allow you to control visibility by setting chapters as public or private as needed.

Recommendations:

  • Communicate clearly to users that the resource is a work in progress. Include an estimated timeline for the release of future chapters.
  • Maintain consistency in formatting, structure, and style across all chapters to ensure a cohesive final resource.

Benefits: 

  • Provides early access to content for users, collaborators, or students.
  • Creates opportunities to gather feedback and make improvements before final publication.
  • Breaks the publishing process into manageable steps, helping reduce pressure on authors and editors.

Considerations:

  • Version Control: Clearly label each chapter with version numbers or status indicators (e.g., Chapter 1 – Draft v1.0, Final).
  • Cohesion and Quality: Ensure each chapter aligns with the overall purpose and tone of the resource to create a unified learning experience.

Identifiers and legal requirements

When publishing OER in stages you may need to consider how this will impact identifiers and legal deposit requirements.

Assigning an ISBN

  • An ISBN is typically assigned at publication.
  • If the resource undergoes significant updates or is republished as a new edition, a new ISBN may be required to distinguish it from earlier versions.

Assigning a DOI

  • If assigning a DOI, consider how you want it to represent the resource. You may choose to:
    • Wait until all chapters are complete before issuing a DOI for the full work.
    • Assign DOIs to individual chapters or versions if needed.

Legal Deposit (NSW)

  • Under the NSW Library Act 1939, publishers must deposit a copy of their publication with the State Library of New South Wales. This requirement also applies to digital publications, which can be deposited electronically.
  • If a publication is released in stages, any substantial content updates may be considered a new edition, requiring a new legal deposit.

Charles Sturt University acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands on which its campuses are located, paying respect to Elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to all First Nations Peoples.Acknowledgement of Country

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