by Anne Marie Gruber, University of Northern Iowa (anne.gruber@uni.edu)
While textbook access and affordability continue to be challenges for college students, many institutions don’t have extra library staffing to support instructors who want to adapt/author Open Educational Resources (OER) to improve access and drive down student costs. What if there were no-cost software and support available to help and to streamline the process? There are!
Because all Iowa academic institutions are Open Education Network (OEN) members, all have access to Manifold, a software program that allows for publishing original or adapted OER.
For those new to the platform, know that everything is web-based, so there is no need for a server or (usually) IT approvals. Publishing with Manifold is as simple as pulling in an existing Google Doc or Word document and letting the software take it from there to turn it into an attractive, accessible ebook. Or, if adapters/authors prefer, they can write content directly in Manifold’s interface.
As with any course material, we should strive to meet digital accessibility standards for any OER we adapt or publish. Manifold has some helpful accessibility features built in, but it is best to format your original drafts to include alternative text and use heading styles, to save on last-minute editing needs.
As the statewide Manifold coordinator, I’m here to help institutions interested in working with Manifold. Check out the additional resources listed below, and don’t hesitate to contact me or complete the Iowa Manifold Project Request Form to get started!
Learn More
For more information about Manifold, review the resources, recorded webinars, and examples below:
- OEN Manifold Community guide. By OEN staff, this guide, built in Manifold itself, includes basic information about OEN’s Manifold benefit, along with FAQs, checklists/templates, and more.
- OEN Community Orientation webinar (51 min.). Presented by OEN staff in October 2024, provides an overview of the collection and a walk through sample projects, both public-facing and backend views.
- Get to Know Our Manifold Community webinar (41 min.). Part of the OEN Engage! event, this session was presented by OEN staff in September 2025.
- Sample OER created in Manifold:
- Projects from OEN member institutions (55)
- Projects from Iowa institutions (16)
- Publishing OER on a Shoestring: Manifold to the Rescue webinar (54 min.). Iowa OER webinar recorded in February 2025.
- Manifold and Accessibility webinar (51 min.). Presented by librarian Elliot Stevens in March 2025.