Health Communication

New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library OER Team’s monthly roundup of notable open educational resources. We try to include at least one open resource relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting OER to share with our colleagues or would like more information about open educational resources initiatives at City Tech.

Business: Fashion

21st Century Queer Fashion Brands: Oral History Project, by Kelly L. Reddy-Best; Dana Goodin; and Kyra Streck, Iowa State University (2020). License: CC BY-NC-ND
“The purpose of this project is to document the history of each brand using the oral history method. We conducted oral histories with 24 brands with questions ranging from their own personal histories to how and why they started the brand. We are interested in the lives of the individuals who founded the brands in addition to the entire story of each brand from idea development to today so that way these stories can be documented as an important part of fashion and retail history.”
Puerto Rican Bomba Fashion: An Oral History Project, by Amanda Ortiz-Pellot and Kelly L. Reddy-Best, Iowa State University (2024). License: CC BY-NC-ND
“We interviewed contemporary Bomba practitioners to understand how they engage in meaning making in this practice rooted in significant cultural traditions. This resource is useful for individuals wanting to expand their knowledge on Puerto Rican history and culture and the connections between folkloric fashions in the past and present in the context of 21st century Puerto Rico.”

Computer Systems Technology

Programming with Java, by Ashik Ahmed Bhuiyan, Ph.D. and Md Amiruzzaman, Ph.D., Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (2025). License: CC BY-NC
“Programming with Java is a beginner-friendly eTextbook that introduces readers to the fundamentals of Java, one of the most widely used programming languages. It covers key concepts like syntax, data types, control structures, and object-oriented programming, offering clear explanations and practical examples. The chapters build progressively, making the material accessible even to those with little or no programming background. The book also explores important topics such as exception handling, file I/O, and basic data structures, providing a strong foundation for further computer science studies.”

Communication Design

The Digital Storytelling Handbook, by Jordan Schugar & Chris Penny, Hannah Glatt, Autumn Hudson, Tu Le, Sarah Mangano, Victoria McQuiston, Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (2024).
License: CC BY-NC
“The Digital Storytelling Handbook is designed to provide an introduction to digital storytelling and its multifaceted applications in the higher education classroom space. This eTextbook gives storytellers practical tools to help them think about different reasons for making digital stories and different ways to think about using and incorporating digital stories into teaching, learning, and living. Co-authored with students, this eTextbook was written in the spirit of OER with the expectation that future readers and students have an opportunity to contribute a chapter, idea, approach, or methodology of the eTextbook’s basic content.”

Construction Management & Civil Engineering Technology

Project Management for Construction (and Deconstruction) – Fundamental Concepts for Owners, Engineers, Architects and Builders, by Chris Hendrickson; Carl Haas; and Tung Au, University of Waterloo, Carnegie Mellon University (2024). License: CC BY-SA
“This book develops a specific viewpoint in discussing the participants, the processes and the techniques of project management for construction. This viewpoint is that of owners who desire completion of projects in a timely, cost-effective fashion. Some profound implications for the objectives and methods of project management result from this perspective.”

English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) & Applied Linguistics

Oral Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English, by Agata Guskaroska, Erik Goodale, Timothy Kochem, Monica Ghosh, Lily Compton, and Elena Cotos (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“This book is an essential instructional tool for developing oral communication skills in academic settings, specifically designed for international graduate students, teaching assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and those preparing to enter academia. The second edition introduces dedicated chapters on developing effective pronunciation, listening skills and speaking fluency. Through its wide array of interactive H5P activities, suitable for both classroom teaching and individual practice, learners can actively develop the skills needed for success in English-speaking academic environments.”

Gender and Sexuality Studies

Introduction to Women’s & Gender Studies, by Colleen Lutz Clemens, Ph.D., Pennsylvania Alliance for Design of Open Textbooks (2023).
License: CC BY-SA
“Introduction to Women’s and Gender Studies (2023) is an e-Textbook designed to provide an introduction to the fields of Women’s Studies and Gender Studies for students taking introductory courses. The textbook touches on a variety of subjects including gender theories, feminisms, intersectionality, equity, and activism. Chapters contain questions to consider and list of suggested readings by theorists and activists. This multimedia e-Textbook incorporates videos and podcasts to create a rich introductory experience for students.”

Communication in Practice: An Introductory Communication Textbook, by Jeremy Rose (2025). License: CC BY
“This approachable and conversational textbook is intended for undergraduate communication courses. Dr. Jeremy Rose draws from an accomplished lecturing career to explore the fundamentals of communication with media examples and real world scenarios.”

Hospitality Management

Food Preparation Lab Manual for FSHN 1150, by Iowa State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University (2025). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“This lab book is intended for use in both the lab and kitchen. Each section of the book contains learning objectives, lab problems to be solved, recipes, questions, and observation charts for the input of data.”

Nursing

Human Reproduction: A Clinical Approach, by Dr. Hala Bastawros, M.D, Iowa State University (2023). License: CC BY-NC
“This book is designed to provide a deep understanding of the biological and biomedical aspects of human reproduction, covering both basic reproductive biology and clinical applications.”

Student Success

A Guide to Writing the Statement of Purpose for Graduate School Applications, by Erin Todey, Iowa State University (2025).
License: CC BY-NC-SA
“This book guides applicants through writing the statement of purpose (SoP) for graduate school applications. It discusses the conventions and expectations of the SoP and the writing process, and includes example SoPs written by students who have been accepted into a graduate program as models.”
Library 1600: Introduction to College-Level Research, by Iowa State University Library Instruction Services (2021). License: CC BY-SA
“You will learn how scholarly information is produced, organized, and accessed; how to construct and use effective search strategies in a variety of web tools and scholarly databases; how to choose finding tools appropriate to the type of information you need; critical thinking skills in the evaluation of resources; and best practices in the ethical use of information.”

City Tech OER team:
Anne Leonard, Interim OER Coordinator: aleonard@citytech.cuny.edu
Joshua Peach, Adjunct OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu

New and Noteworthy is the City Tech Library O.E.R. Team’s monthly roundup of new and noteworthy O.E.R. We try to include at least one O.E.R. relevant to each school at City Tech in every post. At the end of the month, these resources will be compiled and distributed by the library liaison for your department. Please contact us if you know of new or particularly interesting O.E.R. to share with our colleagues or would like more information about O.E.R. initiatives at City Tech.

Open Education

Intersections of Open Educational Resources and Information Literacy, by Mary Ann Cullen and Elizabeth Dill, Association of College and Research Libraries (2022). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“Intersections of Open Educational Resources and Information Literacy captures current open education and information literacy theory and practice and provides inspiration for the future. Chapters include practical applications, theoretical musings, literature reviews, and case studies and discuss social justice issues, collaboration, open pedagogy, training, and advocacy.”
Using Open Educational Resources to Promote Social Justice, by Kevin Adams, Murray Anderson, Elissah Becknell, CJ Ivory, Carrollton, and Angela Pashia, Association of College and Research Libraries (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“Our entrance to academic work on social justice was through a focus on CRT. We outline this background here but wish to emphasize that it explicitly addresses only one aspect of social justice. For us, the structural understanding of racism in the United States creates a foundation upon which to understand other structures of oppression as well as intersectionality.”

Arts & Sciences

Critical Perspectives on Technology and the Family by Susan K. Walker. (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“As information and communications technology (ICT) evolve families and the professionals who work with them are best armed with tools that enable their intentional use. From the perspective of a long time family practitioner, researcher, and educator, and technology innovator, this textbook offers the first comprehensive view of technology in the family for college students, professionals and the public. Each chapter offers content and a complete reference list, learning activities, ideas for critical blog posting and additional readings. Overall, the textbook covers foundational information about our societal use of information and communications technology, family theories and ways of understanding families, and how families differ in their use and access to ICT.”
Disabled And Here Collection, by Affect The Verb (2022). License: CC BY
“This is a disability-led effort to provide free & inclusive stock images from our own perspective, with photos and illustrations celebrating disabled Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC).”

History of Applied Science & Technology by Danielle Skjelver et al. (2022). License: CC BY
“This textbook is designed to meet the needs of History of Applied Science and Technology courses at colleges and universities around the world. Chapters will be organized around the theme of the transformative impact of technological and epistemological changes on worldview and human behavior as they relate to everyday life and global choices. We believe this textbook is the first History of Applied Science and Technology textbook to take a global approach, addressing persistent gaps in coverage in Africa, Asia, and the Americas.”
Introduction to the Nonprofit Sector by Dyana P. Mason. (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“Nonprofit organizations are on the front lines in communities, providing an important foundation for the social safety net in the United States and around the world. They also provide places where people can gather, share ideas and build community. They often accomplish amazing feats with few resources. This book was designed to be used in an undergraduate-level introductory course in the nonprofit sector.”

Nanihtsulyaz ‘int’en (Do things gently) ʔes zuminstwáx kt (We take care of one another): The Role of Indigenous Elders in Student Mental Health and Wellness in the B.C. Post-Secondary Education Environment by Taylor Devine et al. (2022). License: CC BY-NC-ND
“This illustrated booklet shows the holistic ways that Indigenous Elders support student mental health and wellness in the B.C. post-secondary system. It includes quotes from Elders and reflection questions to help readers think about the many ways that Elders’ presence, knowledge, and wisdom enrich the learning environment.”
A People’s History of Structural Racism in Academia: From A(dministration of Justice) to Z(oology) – Open Textbook Library by Susan Rahman et al. (2022). License: CC BY
“Institutions of higher education can serve as a place for these types of dialogues to take place with actionable outcomes. First we must acknowledge and address our own hidden biases within the walls of the academy. Transgressing status quo conventions in academia is a foundational requisite of an effective, and equitable pedagogy. By uncovering the ways in which structural racism is deeply embedded in higher education and learning ways to create a more equitable institution, the potential for healing, innovation and change is possible.”

Professional Studies

Instructional Methods, Strategies and Technologies to Meet the Needs of All Learners, by Paula Lombardi (2022). License: CC BY-NC-SA
Open text designed to supplement studies towards a Special Education Teacher Certification.

Toward a Critical Instructional Design, by Jerod Quinn, Martha Burtis, Surita Jhangiani, and Robin DeRosa (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“These chapters challenge current common practices and assumptions in online education, while also challenging our assumptions about who our learners are and what power they should have in learning spaces.”

Introduction to Social Work: A Look Across the Profession, by James Langford, LCSW and Craig Keaton, PhD, LMSW (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“This book takes students on a journey through many but not all of the different possibilities in social work. Social work is a profession focused on helping people live their best lives by working with people individually, at the family level, in groups and communities. […] Students will learn the profession’s exciting history and ways we help today.”

Technology & Design

Engineering Mechanics: Statics, by Elisabeth (Libby) Osgood, Gayla Cameron, and Emma Christensen, Charlottetown, Robertson Library Pressbooks (2022). License: CC BY-NC-SA
“Introduction to engineering mechanics: statics, for those who love to learn. Concepts include: particles and rigid body equilibrium equations, distributed loads, shear and moment diagrams, trusses, method of joints and sections, & inertia.”

A History of Enterprise Search 1938-2022, by Martin White, The University of Sheffield (2022). License: CC BY-NC
“A chronological history of the development of enterprise search applications on a decade – by – decade basis from 1938 – 2022 starting with the use of punched cards to search through enterprise collections of scientific information and ending with the transition to the integration of artificial intelligence models into search applications.”
A Person-Centered Guide to Demystifying Technology, 2nd Edition, by Martin Wolske, Windsor & Downs Press (2022). License: CC BY-SA
“The general learning outcome objectives of this book are to help readers: • Develop a clear hands-on working understanding of the physical and software layers of computers and networks; • Evolve a more holistic and nuanced understanding of the sociotechnical artifacts we use as a daily part of our professional lives; • Develop a critical approach to sociotechnical artifacts to counter systemic injustices related to race, class/caste, gender, and other cultural dynamics; and • Advance community agency in appropriating technology to achieve our individual and community development goals through a reconsidered digital literacy learning and practice.”
Strength of Materials Supplement for Power Engineering, by Alex Podut, British Columbia Institute of Technology (2022). License: CC BY
“Applied Strength of Materials is a technical course in Power and Process Engineering program, second year. The course prepares the graduates for solving practical engineering problems; it also covers the topics needed for 2nd and 1st class Power Engineering certification exams. This work is designed to complement the Applied Strength of Materials open textbook written by Dr. Barry Dupen.”

Cailean Cooney, Assistant Professor, OER Librarian: ccooney@citytech.cuny.edu
Joshua Peach, Adjunct Reference & OER Librarian: jpeach@citytech.cuny.edu
Jo Thompson, Adjunct Reference & OER Librarian: jthompson@citytech.cuny.edu

The OpenLab at City Tech:A place to learn, work, and share

The OpenLab is an open-source, digital platform designed to support teaching and learning at City Tech (New York City College of Technology), and to promote student and faculty engagement in the intellectual and social life of the college community.