When do you publish revisions?

How does OpenStax update and revise textbooks?

Online Revisions

At OpenStax, we revise textbooks throughout the year, based on errata reports submitted by our users. Collaborating with subject matter experts and with author approval, we periodically update the online version of the textbook with suggested changes throughout the year.

• Errata submitted from March through October are generally incorporated into the online book for the spring semester.
• Errata submitted from November through February are generally incorporated into the online book for the fall semester.

PDF and Print Revisions

When substantial changes are present, OpenStax will publish revised PDF and print versions of those textbooks at the end of the academic year. By updating the PDF and print formats once a year, we avoid disrupting user access to the material, and this allows us to do larger, more effective print runs, keeping costs low for students.

New Editions

New editions are created to accommodate significant developments in the field or when authors and adopters agree that the textbook should be significantly reorganized or rewritten.

Retired Editions

OpenStax typically supports the current edition of each textbook and the previous edition on OpenStax.org. As new editions are published (generally every 3–5 years), older editions are retired to ensure users have access to the most accurate content and the best online experience.

For more information about how and when editions are retired, please see the OpenStax Edition Retirement Policy.

Learn More

To learn more about our revision process, visit our blog article, OpenStax textbook revisions, updates, and improvements.