The Library Course Reserves Department would be happy to assist faculty members with requesting course materials for shelf and electronic reserves.

Instructors can request reserve materials by using the Library Course Reserves management system (Ares) in Blackboard. All reserve materials must adhere to the University's copyright policies. Below is an introduction to Ares, along with step-by-step instructions for adding reserve items.

Getting Started

Placing Professors' Personal Copies on Reserve

Creating Links to the Library's Electronic Holdings  

Requesting Articles, Book Excerpts, and Online Documents for E-Reserves

Cloning Previously Used Items  

Other Features

Copyright Information

Getting Started

• To start requesting Reserves items, log in to your Blackboard account using your usual university log-in.
• Under "My Courses", select the course that you want to request items for.
• In your course, select "Course Reserves" from the left menu bar. This will open the course reserves module. (If the Course Reserves button is not available, please contact Course Reserves)
• You can now begin to submit and manage your course reserve items. Select "Add Reserve Items" from the left-hand menu.

Placing Library Books on Reserve for Limited Loan Periods

Instructors can make full text books available to their students for limited loan periods through shelf-reserves. Reserves staff will pull books from the library stacks, recall books which are currently checked out or rush order books which the library does not own. Books from other schools can NOT be put on reserve at AU.

• Once you have clicked on "Add Reserve Item," select "Book" as the type of item you want to request.
• Fill out as much information as you can about the book you would like to request. You will also need to choose a "2-hr" or "1-day" loan period. If the book will constitute required reading for the entire class, we recommend a 2-hr loan period to allow all students time to access it.
• You can also indicate if you will be bringing the books to the Course Reserves desk and if the material will be required for the first month of classes.

Placing Professors' Personal Copies on Reserve

Instructors also have the option of submitting their own personal copies of books, articles, and/or course packets.

You will be asked to fill out the book request form and select "I will supply the material" for any personal copies you want on reserve. You are also welcome to do so at the Library when you come to deliver the personal copies.

To ensure that these items are correctly returned, all materials should be marked with the instructor's name and department.

You must pick up your personal copies or contact the reserves staff to make other arrangements no later than six months after the semester has ended. Otherwise, books and photocopies will be donated to the library.

Although the reserves staff takes every precaution to ensure the good condition of personal copies, there is a risk involved with placing these materials on reserve. Personal copies will be available for instructors to pick up at the end of each semester.

Creating Links to the Library's Electronic Holdings

If you would like us to create links to items from the Library's electronic holdings (journal articles, e-books, etc.) please fill out an "Article" or "Book" request via the "Add Reserve Item" button in the Course Reserves module of Blackboard.

Requesting Articles, Book Excerpts, and Online Documents for E-Reserves

• To request an article, select "Article" from the "Add Reserve Item" window and provide as much information as possible. Reserves staff will locate the article and make it available either as a web link or a as a pdf file.
• To request book excerpts, select "Chapter" from the "Add Reserve Item" window and provide as much information as possible. You may type "Excerpts" instead of a chapter number or title, but please include the page numbers requested. Due to copyright restrictions, we can only scan up to 25% of a book for E-Reserves.
• Indicate if you will be providing the book or article to be scanned and if the item will be needed for the first month of classes.
• For items which are neither books nor articles, such as government documents or unpublished papers, please fill out an "Other Sources" request from the "Add Reserve Item" menu. Be sure to indicate how the item will be supplied and a web address if necessary.

Cloning Previously Used Items

If you would like to clone items from previous semesters or from one section to another, please email Course Reserves or call 202-885-3231.

Other Features

• Item Tags: An instructor can "tag" any reserve item to identify weeks, topics, papers etc. For example, one article can be tagged "Week 1," "Napoleon," and "midterm" to help student sort materials. Instructors can add tags either while filling out their initial request or later on by clicking on an item from their item list. Instructors and students can also make their own personal tags on items which cannot be seen by anyone else.

• Processing Status: Once you have submitted your reserve items, they will display in a list within your account. You can check the processing status of items in your list, making any changes as needed.

• Email Alerts: You can also register for e-mail notices through the Library Course Reserves Management system. An e-mail will be sent to you whenever your course reserves are updated by you, your TAs, or Library reserves staff. Your students can also sign up for this feature so they can learn when reserve items are available.

• Student View: If you would like to review how students will see your course reserves list, select "Switch to Student Mode" in the Library Course Reserves menu. Please note that students will only see course reserve items that are available.

• Reserve Item Usage: The "Reserve Item Usage" option allows you to view the number of times reserve items are accessed. By selecting "Show Detailed Usage," you can see what day each item was accessed.

• File Upload: Instructors can upload files directly from their computer into the Course management module by clicking on "Add Reserve Item" and then "File Upload." Uploaded files are available immediately and instructors are responsible for ensuring adherence with university copyright policies.

Copyright Information

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. In accordance with this code, the following guidelines apply to all course reserve lists.

• Photocopied materials may be placed on the Reserve Shelf and e-reserves for one semester under the "fair use" clause. However, if these materials are to be used for additional semesters, copyright permission must be obtained. If the library cannot obtain permission through the Copyright Clearance Center, the Reserve staff will attempt to obtain copyright permission from the publishers.

• The purchasing limits for shelf reserves are $30.00 per article/chapter. For e-reserves, the purchasing limits are $100.00 per article/chapter and $500.00 per course. 

• A small portion of the book or journal can be photocopied and placed on the Reserve Shelf or e-reserves.