For Faculty:

In-Library Reserves

• Materials that can go on reserve include books, journals, journal articles, videotapes, and instructor-prepared items, such as tests or sample papers.
• To place an item on reserve, you (or an assistant) must bring it to the Circulation Desk, preferably 48 hours before it will be needed by students.
• A form is filled out, specifying: course number and name, instructor(s), quarter(s) needed, and whether the item should not be able to be checked out overnight.
• The form also asks "Students will ask for material by (Please circle one)," with options of author, title or folder title. How do you refer to the item? Is it, "Read Smith," or "Read your History of Minnesota text" or "The readings are in the course folder"?
• Reserve materials may generally be used only in the library or checked out only overnight. If you do not want your materials to be checked out overnight at all, please let us know.
• For non-circulating library items, such as reference books, newspapers and journals, if you are requiring more than two or three students to use the same item, please consider placing the item formally on reserve. This reduces wear and tear and chance of loss of items.
• Especially for videos, if many students will need to view an item in a relatively short period of time, consider asking students to form groups. One of our viewing rooms can seat 2-3 persons, and another can fit 6-8; both can be reserved.
  Keep copyright law in mind. Photocopied articles and chapters may well violate copyright law, particularly if there are many copies of the same item on reserve, or if the same item is used quarter after quarter. Please contact the library for advise on this. Books, original videos, and instructor-composed items are not affected.

Electronic reserves and referrals

Electronic reserves
Electronic Reserves require two components: permission and posting.

1. Permission
You will need permission to post copyrighted material on a web site for your students to access.
You can receive this permission through the Copyright Clearance Center; contact a librarian for password and account information.
This permission will require the payment of royalties. Paper/physical reserves are included in "fair use" but electronic materials (at this point) are not.
You will be advised of the amount of the royalties before you proceed.

2. Posting
Work with Information Technologies to scan and mount/post your items, through Web CT or other password-protected access.
IT will NOT post copyrighted materials without the copyright owner's permission (through CCC or you may approach the owner directly).

Referrals (or PURLs - Persistent URLs)
If an item already exists in an accessible database, you can simply refer your students to it. Many articles are available full-text in PALS databases or in CINAHL. Give your students the appropriate database name, and the bibliographic citations, and you do not need to put it on reserve. Follow this link for an example of what a PURL is.

Coursepacks
If you need students to use materials and cannot do so within copyright guidelines, you can arrange for fee-based (royalty-paying) "coursepacks." A librarian can show you how to register your materials, and the Print Shop can then duplicate the items.

Students often would prefer to pay for already-prepared coursepacks than to do their individual photocopying of items on reserve.