The document discusses the rising cost of college textbooks and the barriers this poses for students. It introduces open educational resources (OER) as an alternative, which are freely licensed educational materials that can be legally adapted and shared. Tidewater Community College is highlighted for developing the first US associate degree program based entirely on OER. Research shows OER can save students over $100 per course on average. The role of libraries in supporting OER adoption through services like guides, workshops, and publishing is also covered.