Using free and open online resources: Licensing and collections

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the “open” or “free” resources and materials available from online collections and providers that may be of significant strategic value to schools, universities and to other organizations with educational mandates, such as museums and archives. The initial sections of this paper describe some of the most basic characteristics of “open source,” or more accurately, “creative commons” licensing for cultural and educational resources. These sections also outline criteria for the inclusion of items in the annotated listing that is provided in the remainder of the document. This listing provides details for a number of recommended collections of resources with alternative licences, indicating the terms governing their use in each case.Peer reviewe