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Open Educational Resources (OER)

A guide to educational material that are freely available to use, adapt, share, and reuse.

Discovering Pressbooks

 

 

 

Pressbooks is online software that enables authors and publishers to design and format any kind of book, including:

  • PDF: for print or print on demand
  • EPUB: for Apple iBooks, Nook, Kobo, Kindle and most other ebook platforms
  • Webbook: private or public **

Pressbooks is used by independent authors, small and medium-sized publishers, and educational institutions around the world. All book formats are produced using templates that are optimized to look great in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. File exports produced with Pressbooks can be exported and downloaded from Pressbooks and distributed or shared however you like. The advantages of Pressbooks include:

  • A simple, familiar interface
  • Professionally-designed book files, without complex software
  • Unlimited ability to edit, update, and (re)export books
  • Ability to collaborate with other authors and editors
  • A variety of book formats
  • Affordable access
  • Complete control over your own content

** Unfamiliar with webbooks? 

Pressbooks webbooks are website versions of your book that are hosted on Pressbooks and can be distributed for free to the public. Many use Pressbooks webbooks to produce and distribute open educational resources (OER). Unlike PDFs and ebooks, webbooks are a live version of your book that doesn’t need to be exported or downloaded.

Pressbooks produces a web version of every book. You can view yours at any time by clicking the Visit Book link underneath the title of your book in the top menu. However, your Pressbooks webbook is Private until you change the Global Privacy Setting to Public.

 

 
Content remixed from Pressbooks User Guide by Pressbooks and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

NOTE: As we configure our Pressbooks instance, some of the graphics and processes may change.  We will keep this guide updated as much as possible.  Thank you, in advance, for your patience.
You can also access: https://pressbooks.library.virginia.edu/getting-started/ for a guided walkthrough.  

The following steps detail how to create an account in UVA Pressbooks:

  1. Navigate to: https://pressbooks.library.virginia.edu/

  2. Select Sign In from the upper right corner
    UVA Pressbooks landing page

  3. You will be prompted to Netbadge authenticate.  

  4. Portions of your profile will be auto-populated based on your University information.  You may edit your profile to include additional information:
    Profile interface
    User Profile interface

  5. Once editing is complete, select Update Profile

5 Simple Steps to Get Going in Pressbooks


Once you have created your account, navigate to 'Admin:'

Navigation panel with Admin highlighted

 
Step 1: Create Your Book

Once you have created your account and have received notification that it has been configured, you may begin by creating the 'shell' of your book.  

  1. Login to your Admin Dashboard & Click the 'Add New' button:

If you already have an account on an EDU or self-hosted Pressbooks network, you can create a book by doing the following:

  1. Login to your admin dashboard & click the ‘Add New‘ button:

    Pressbooks Dashboard with 'Add New' button highlighted.
     
  2. Fill in your desired webbook address and book title and click the ‘Create Book‘ button.  Note:Your webbook address cannot be changed later, so choose this value carefully. The book title can be easily changed at any point in the future.
    Create a New Book Page with welcome message, area for selecting web address, book title, and privacy of public view.  Your webbook address is the web address where you will access and create your book.  It must be at least 4 characters, letters and numbers only.  It cannot be changed, so choose carefullyI. We suggest using the title of your book with no spaces.
     

Step 2: Add Your Book Information 

The Book Info page is where you add and edit important information (metadata) about your book. 

  1. From your book dashboard, click 'Book Info.'
    Dashboard with Book Info identified

    2. Enter your desired Book Information and click 'Save' in the 'Save Book Information' widget. 
    Edit Book Information interface
Step 3: Add and Organize Your Text

You can add and organize your text from the Organize  page in the left sidebar menu of your book dashboard.  The organize page will allow you to see all of your existing content, its order, and its display status. You'll see the three main components of your book on this page:

Front Matter: Content in this section may include your introduction, foreword, dedication, and more.  Read more about Front Matter

Parts & Chapters: These comprise the main body of your book.  Your book can contain one or more Parts.  Each part can contain one or more Chapters.  Learn more about adding Parts and adding Chapters.  

Back Matter: Content in this section may include your epilogue, appendix, information about contributors, and more.  Learn more about Back Matter

Organize interface with Front Matter, Parts and Chapters, and Back Matter

For more information on other ways to import your text into Pressbooks, review How to Get Your Book into Pressbooks.



Step 4: Choose Your Book Theme

Once you've entered or imported the content that will make up your book, you can select and apply your preferred Theme. Each Pressbooks theme is a unique template which governs the display of your webbook and export formats (including PDF and ebook exports).

Browse available themes by clicking Appearance > Themes from your Book Dashboard:

Appearance interface

Once you’ve selected a theme, you can customize several of the design elements for your webbook and export files using Theme Options or Custom CSS.


Step 5: Export Your Book 

Once you're happy with the appearance of your book, you can publish it to the web as a webbook or produce exports for distribution or sale.  To produce and download export files for your book, click 'Export' from your book Dashboard:

Export interface


 
Content remixed from Pressbooks User Guide by Pressbooks and is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Pressbooks Support at UVA Library

The Library will be offering periodic Pressbooks information sessions and workshops.  These sessions will be recorded and shared in on this page.  

For UVA-related Pressbooks questions, please contact: pressbookssupport@virginia.edu
 

Pressbooks Training 

We encourage Pressbooks users to utilize the vast array of open resources offered as a means of leaning more about the wide variety of functionalities and intricacies of the tool.  The Pressbooks interface is built with user-friendly navigation in mind. 

Monthly Training Webinars from Pressbooks:

Pressbooks offers monthly training sessions.  You may register for an introductory and/or advanced session at: https://pressbooks.com/webinars/

Pressbooks User Guide:

The Pressbooks User Guide has been curated over time and provides clear instructions for use from creating a book through to the publication phase.
Click on the cover the access or view at: https://guide.pressbooks.com/

Pressbooks User Guide Cover                      

 

 

                             

 

 

 

 

The Pressbooks community is lively and there is an abundance of resources for those wishing to fully engage.  

The following are great starting points:

  • Pressbooks Directory
    Spend some time familiarizing yourself with all of the excellent resources users have created in Pressbooks.  You can search featured collections or seach based on your own criteria. 
     
  • Pressbooks Knowledge Base

    The Pressbooks Knowledge Base Provides a FAQ section on book creation and more.
     

  • Pressbooks YouTube Channel

    The Pressbooks YouTube Channel provides comprehensive guidance on using the Pressbooks.  The channel is a great resource for product updates, deep dives into functionalities, and much more.