Who Owns Our Knowledge? UD Library, Museums and Press Celebrates International Open Access Week with Pressbooks
This year’s International Open Access Week (October 20-26, 2025) invites the global academic community to reflect on a vital question: Who owns our knowledge? In a time of disruption, the theme challenges us to reassert control over the knowledge we produce, examine whose voices are represented, and consider how scholarship is created, shared and accessed.
At the UD Library, Museums and Press, our staff is committed to advancing open access initiatives that ensure scholarship is not only accessible but also impactful. One powerful tool available to UD faculty is Pressbooks, a Canvas-compatible platform that enables instructors to independently publish free, accessible digital resources—including textbooks, course guides and teaching materials—with interactive features that support student learning.
“Pressbooks allowed me to easily create a visually appealing and accessible resource. The interactive H5P features are especially helpful for student engagement. I especially appreciate the level of support I’ve received throughout the process from the UD Library team,” said Nigel Caplan, professor and assistant director for Teacher-Training Programs at the English Language Institute.
Faculty who sign up for Pressbooks gain access to ongoing training and technical support, ensuring they have guidance every step of the way. The platform has already supported projects such as Writing at Work, and more faculty are beginning to explore how open publishing can expand access to knowledge while enhancing their teaching.
“Pressbooks empowers instructors to share their expertise more broadly and create resources that reflect the diversity of their students and fields,” said Jeanne Kambara, open education librarian. “Open access publishing helps us all rethink ownership of knowledge and puts more tools in the hands of educators to shape learning in equitable and meaningful ways.”
To learn more about Pressbooks, request an account or explore faculty-created works, contact Jeanne Kambara at 302-831-4073 or jkambara@udel.edu
This Open Access Week, UD invites faculty, students and staff to join the conversation about who owns our knowledge—and to take action by creating resources that open doors for learners everywhere.