The Hub AU Press shares 4 free book recommendations for International Literacy Day

AU Press shares 4 free book recommendations for International Literacy Day

Sept. 8 is International Literacy Day—a day recognized by the United Nations to promote the importance of literacy as an integral part of education and lifelong learning as defined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This year, there is a special focus on the interplay of literacy and digital skills, and how to make technology-enabled learning inclusive and meaningful. 

Athabasca University (AU) supports this goal whole heartedly—it’s woven into the fabric of the university in general, but also into its publishing division, AU Press.

AU Press is the first open access publisher in Canada, meaning it publishes scholarship in the social sciences and humanities online for free to readers. It is committed to following gold open access, which is a convention that subscribes to free, immediate, and permanent online access to a publication’s version of record. All AU Press books can be read online or downloaded as a PDF. 

Check out some of these recent award-nominated releases from AU Press. These are titles their editors feel are accessible to readers and offer unique perspectives on learning and education. 

25 Years of Ed Tech book cover

25 Years of Ed Tech

By Martin Weller

This book looks at issues surrounding distance learning, both challenges and successes, which have been top of mind for many during the pandemic. It is notable for having recently been nominated by the Book Publishers Association of Alberta (BPAA) annual “best of” awards in the category: Learning Book of the Year.

Finding Refuge in Canada book cover

Finding Refuge in Canada

Edited by George Melnyk and Christina Parker

Read personal stories as told by people who had to flee their home country and make a new life in Canada. These fascinating, first-person accounts let readers glimpse into the often-harrowing stories of new refugees to our country. 

The Art of Communications in a Polarized World book cover

The Art of Communication in a Polarized World

By Kyle Conway

Timely and insightful, this book looks at the ways people can more effectively communicate and learn from each other, especially those they vehemently disagree with. It is also notable for being nominated for a BPAA award in the category: Scholarly or Academic Book of the Year.    

The Virtues of Disillusionment book cover

The Virtues of Disillusionment

By Steven Heighton

This one is a bit of twist and takes the learning/education aspect and turns it inward, as in how one can learn more about themselves. This book looks at the phenomenon of illusions with respect to creativity, art, and society. It is also a meditation on language and philosophy that reveals the virtues of being disillusioned and, perhaps, the path to freedom. This book was also nominated for a BPAA award in the category: Cover Design of the Year. 

Banner image by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash.

Published:
  • September 8, 2021
Tagged In:
au press, literacy, open access,