How to Access and Use the Book

We hope this book (or chapters in the book) will be adopted for introductory-level courses in LGBTQ+ studies, as part of required readings. You may use the book as it is, or create adaptations or ancillaries. One of the important benefits of LGBTQ+ Studies: An Open Textbook is that instructors can mix and match chapters to make their own customized set of readings for their courses.

Be sure to read the licensing information carefully and attribute the chapters or book properly when reusing, redistributing, or adapting.

This book can be read online for free at https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-lgbtq-studies, and is also downloadable in multiple formats:

  • The PDF files can be edited with Adobe Acrobat (the full program, not just the Reader) or printed out.
  • Edits can be made using the XHTML format or via the Pressbooks XML format (for easier adaptation in Pressbooks) [These formats are forthcoming].
  • The book is also available for download as a Common Cartridge 1.1 file (with web links) for import into your learning management system (see instructions for importing Common Cartridge files, from the Pressbooks User Guide) [This format is forthcoming].

The multiple editable formats allow instructors to adapt the books as needed to fit their own needs. Another way to create adaptations is to involve students in contributing to open textbooks. Students may add new sections to an adapted book, link to other resources, create discussion questions or quiz questions, and more. Please see Rebus Community’s A Guide to Making Open Textbooks with Students for more information and ideas.

If you plan to use or adapt one or more chapters, we’d love to hear about it! Please let us know on the Rebus Community platform, and also on our adoption form.

And if you have feedback or suggestions about the book, we would really appreciate those as well. We have a separate form for keeping track of issues with digital accessibility, so please provide your feedback on digital accessibility as well.