News
How Affordable Are Textbooks for JMU Students?
Posted February 18, 2026
Textbook affordability remains a major challenge for college students. In 2025, Virginia’s academic library consortium surveyed students across the Commonwealth about their textbook experiences. More than 1,000 JMU students responded, sharing how course material costs affect their academic choices and success. Here’s what they had […]
Nominate Outstanding Open Educational Resources for $2000 Honorarium
Posted February 18, 2026
Open textbooks and other open educational resources (OER) make education more accessible and affordable for Virginia students. The Virginia Open Ed Impact Award recognizes outstanding OER that have had a significant impact in higher education classes in Virginia. You are invited to submit a nomination for an outstanding open educational resource by March 20, 2026. Self-nominations are welcome, and previously nominated OER are eligible. Editions of OER that have already received the Virginia […]
Worried About Textbook Costs? MyMadison Shows Courses with No-Cost or Low-Cost Course Materials
Posted February 10, 2026
Students, did you know that when you are enrolling in courses, you can filter your course search for those with low-cost or no-cost course materials? If the total cost of textbooks for a course is $40 or less at the […]
Faculty Deadline to Mark Your Course as “No/Low Cost Course Materials”
Posted February 8, 2026
This is a friendly reminder that if your course materials total $40 or less at the JMU Bookstore, you should alert the relevant staff in your department when you submit your other course information so they can add this info to Course Scheduler for […]
Staff Reminder to Mark No/Low-Cost Courses in Course Scheduler
Posted February 8, 2026
This is a friendly reminder for staff who are responsible for entering classes in Course Scheduler. Please make sure that any courses with textbooks costing $40 or less at the JMU Bookstore are marked as No/Low-Cost so that students can […]
Watch Carrier Library Take Shape in Time-Lapse Videos
Posted February 4, 2026
Throughout the Carrier Library renovation and expansion, the construction firm’s project camera captured images of the build. Now that the exterior is complete and work has moved indoors, we invite you to look back at the progress through these time-lapse […]
We Can Help Faculty with Video and Media Production
Posted February 2, 2026
Do you need to create videos or other media for your classes? We can help faculty record videos or audio in our video production studio on the 5th floor of Rose Library—or in the location of your choice! We also […]
Artificial Intelligence Workshops in Spring 2026
Posted January 30, 2026
Join a JMU Libraries workshop to explore the complex and ever-changing world of artificial intelligence (AI): Workshop for Anyone at JMU: Workshops for Faculty and Staff: Faculty Reading Group on AI: We are also offering a Reading & Reflection Group on […]
Beyond the Textbook – Students Preserving Local Black History at Simms
Posted January 30, 2026
Next time you’re in the Northeast neighborhood of Harrisonburg, look for the Lucy F. Simms Center—a large brick building next to Ralph Sampson Park. If you think it looks like a public school, you are correct. This community center was once the Lucy F. Simms School, a cornerstone of the Black community in Harrisonburg, VA, until it was closed in 1966 as part […]
Apply by March 22 for Summer Stipend for Transitioning to OER
Posted January 28, 2026
The JMU Libraries Summer Stipend for Transitioning to OER provides funding for faculty to do critical course redesign work, such as developing new assignments and graded activities, when transitioning to an open textbook or other open educational resources (OER).
