Call for Proposals for Open Textbooks

The deadline for textbook proposals has been extended to May 18!

Portland State University Library recently published five open access textbooks authored by PSU faculty for use by PSU students, as part of a pilot project called PDX Open. In just the first term of use, students saved a combined $23,800.

With the success of these first five textbooks and the support of generous donors, PSU Library is pleased to announce a new round of funding for the development of open access textbooks by Portland State University faculty.

Proposals are due May 18, 2015.

Open textbooks are digital in format and made freely available over the web for students at PSU and beyond. PDX Open textbooks are published in PDXScholar, the university’s institutional repository managed by PSU Library. See examples of open textbooks here.

We seek proposals for texts that are comprehensive works geared toward a specific field of study. Preference will be given to proposals with applicability towards multiple, high-enrollment undergraduate courses taught by faculty in a single department at PSU.

Faculty authors whose proposals are accepted for publication will receive a $2,500 stipend. These funds can be allocated at the faculty member’s discretion, for professional travel, research support, peer-reviewers, accuracy checkers, and copy-editors.

Proposals should include the following:


  • Faculty member’s contact information and current CV

  • Textbook title

  • Description of contents

  • Table of contents with chapter descriptions

  • Estimated length of manuscript

  • Statement of support from department chair, associate dean, or dean

  • Suggested peer reviewers for manuscript


See Open Access Textbooks for more information and complete submission requirements.

Important dates


Proposals due: May 18, 2015
Responses sent: June
Anticipated publication: By January 2016

If you have questions, please contact Digital Initiatives Coordinator Karen Bjork at pdxscholar@pdx.edu or (503) 725-5889.