Meet Lauren Kosrow, the Digital Content and Open Access Librarian at the College of DuPage, plus the co-chair of CCCOER’s EDI Committee. In this edition of our Meet the Members series, Lauren discusses how she is cutting textbook costs for students, building partnerships across campus, and working to launch the first Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Associate of Arts degree at her institution. She also shares how her volunteer work with the CCCOER community helps bring new ideas back to her campus.
Can you tell us about your role at College of DuPage? What does a typical day or week look like for you?
I serve as the Digital Content and Open Access Librarian at College of DuPage, where I support affordable and equitable access to course materials and digital learning resources. About half of my work focuses on providing leadership for our OER program and helping faculty explore alternatives to traditional textbooks, and the other half of my role supports access to the library’s online collections and digital platforms.
My work is varied, which is one of the things I enjoy most about the role. In a typical week, I might meet with faculty to discuss adopting or creating OER materials, provide workshops or consultations on copyright and open licensing, or spend time analyzing data related to OER and electronic resource usage. I also work with vendors and library staff to help ensure students and faculty can easily access ebooks, databases, streaming media, and other online resources that support teaching and learning.
Much of the work I do is relationship-building—working closely with faculty, librarians, and students to make educational content more accessible for our campus community.
What parts of your work do you find most meaningful or energizing?
What I find most meaningful is the opportunity to help remove financial barriers for College of DuPage students to achieve their academic goals. Whether that’s through OER or improved access to library electronic resources, I really value work that allows students to access the course materials they need to be successful without cost becoming an obstacle. It’s especially rewarding to hear from students who were able to access materials on the first day of class, remain enrolled in a course, or feel more seen and supported because of these efforts.
Are there any projects, initiatives, or accomplishments you’re especially proud of right now?
One initiative I’m especially proud of right now is how close we are to launching our first Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Associate of Arts degree at College of DuPage. This has been a highly collaborative effort involving faculty, librarians, administrators, and department staff working together to replace traditional textbook costs with OER and library-supported materials across the college.
I’m really proud of the strong faculty partnerships that have made this possible. Faculty have invested significant time and energy into redesigning courses, exploring open resources, and thinking intentionally about accessibility and student learning. Seeing that momentum grow across campus over the past four years has been incredibly energizing.
What excites you most about serving in a leadership or volunteer role with CCCOER?
What excites me most about serving in a volunteer role with CCCOER is the opportunity to connect with other open education advocates from across the country. Open education work can look very different from campus to campus, so being part of this community creates valuable opportunities to share ideas and learn from one another. Being involved with CCCOER helps me bring new ideas and perspectives back to College of DuPage, and I value being a part of a network of people who are deeply committed to making education more affordable, accessible, and student-centered.
What’s a book, podcast, or article you’ve enjoyed recently?
After the Artemis II launch, I picked up Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I’m not typically a science fiction reader, but I really enjoyed it! Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt are other recent favorites.
Favorite place you’ve traveled (or would love to travel)?
Over the past few years, my family and I have discovered the joy of exploring our national parks. My favorites so far are Joshua Tree and Acadia. We are planning a trip to Yellowstone and Grand Teton this summer.
Coffee, tea, or something else to fuel your day?
Coffee! My morning cup of coffee on my commute into work (while listening to an audiobook on Libby or a favorite podcast!) is a highlight of my day.