The Short Names

Global Text Book Project
http://globaltext.terry.uga.edu/node/1

The project will create open content electronic textbooks that will be freely available from a website. Distribution will also be possible via paper, CD, or DVD. Their goal initially is to focus on content development and Web distribution, and they will work with relevant authorities to facilitate dissemination by other means when bandwidth is unavailable or inadequate. The goal is to make textbooks available to the many who cannot afford them. They have experience with developing a free textbook, XML: Managing Data Exchange. This project started in January 2004 when a graduate class at the University of Georgia wrote the first version of the book. Subsequent graduate and undergraduate classes at the University of Georgia and elsewhere have improved and extended the book. It has been used as the XML text in a variety of classes, and in each case the class has been required to leave the book in better shape than they received it at the beginning of the term. Experience with this project and the success of WikiBooks has convinced them that they can further develop the idea of free and open content books to increase the value of these books to students, particularly those who cannot afford paper-based textbooks. They want to add several innovations to improve the quality of the books. The Global Text Project is funded by the Jacobs Foundation. This has been added to Reference Resources Subject Tracer™ Information Blog.