Reserves FAQ
General
What are my options for providing course readings to students?
There are a number of choices. You could:- Photocopy and hand out readings in class in compliance with the university’s Copyright and Fair Use policy.
- Scan and post readings to Blackboard in compliance with the university’s Copyright and Fair Use policy.
- Link to electronic journal articles provided by the library in Blackboard.
- Arrange for a coursepack through the bookstore or other provider.
- Request E-reserves through the library.
| Cost | Copyright | Speed | Quality | |
| Photocopying | Your department absorbs photocopy costs | You are responsible for adhering to fair use or getting permission | You set the timeline | You control quality of photocopies |
| Blackboard | Students absorb printing cost | You are responsible for adhering to fair use or getting permission | You set the timeline | You control quality of photocopies |
| Coursepack | Students absorb printing cost | Copyright fees are included in the student cost | Approximately four weeks needed for copyright clearance and reproduction | You control quality of photocopies delivered to bookstore |
| Library E-Reserves | Library absorbs copyright clearance cost; students absorb printing cost | Library assures fair use or pays permission fees | Approximately two weeks needed for items the library owns; four weeks for items not owned | Library scans from original journal or book or provides links to high- quality online versions |
Are textbooks purchased for library reserves?
In general the library does not purchase textbooks because they lack long-term value for the collection. Instructors may place personal copies of textbooks on reserve.When are links to library databases used instead of scanned PDFs?
The library will link directly to journals in full-text databases whenever available. If an instructor provides a citation to a journal reprinted in a reader, the E-reserves page will link to the original article.Using E-Reserves
How do students access materials on E-reserves?
You will receive a direct link to your course readings to post on either Blackboard or an online syllabus or simply have your student click on Course Readings from the library homepage. You are responsible for giving your students the password to access the materials from the library homepage. Students will not need a password to access the readings through Blackboard.Do my students or I need a password to access E-reserve materials?
Students must be authenticated to access course readings online. The instructor will receive a password to distribute only to registered students. Students will not need the password if course readings are linked through Blackboard, which has its own authentication.How do students in distance learning and online programs access reserves?
E-reserves is the best solution for students in any online or distance learning program, because students can access the collection from computers at home or anywhere they have a computer, Internet connection and Web browser.How do students print E-reserves from Adobe Acrobat Reader?
Be sure to click the print icon within the Acrobat window, not the print icon of the browser.Copyright & Fair Use
What are the library's copyright guidelines?
The library adheres to the university's Copyright and Fair Use policy stipulating that no more than 10% or one chapter of a book or one article from a journal issue may be scanned for e-reserves.Why do items need the copyright statement?
Copyright law requires that the copyright notice be displayed on each item on reserve.How do I get copyright clearance?
The library will seek copyright clearance for items on reserve. If the copyright holder's fee is beyond the amount the library budget can afford, the library will advise the instructor to find an alternative.Where can I learn more about copyright and fair use?
For federal information about fair use, visit the U.S. Copyright Office.Can I place a different chapter from the same book on reserve every week?
No, but you may put the book on library reserve and require the students to read a different chapter every week.Can I put more than one essay/poem/play/article from the same printed book collection on reserve?
No. However, the entire collection may be placed on print reserve.Submitting Books
Can I put E-books on reserve?
No. Since license agreements and access to E-books varies, at this time it is advisable that the faculty member give the student the information to access the book directly from the provider. DePaul University subscribes to books24x7.com and netLibrary (from the DePaul Libraries home page, select Books, Videos & Music). Many books in the public domain are available online via the Internet.I co-authored a book; can I put all the chapters I wrote on reserve?
If the faculty member owns the copyright on the material to be placed on reserve, such as lecture notes or exams, or if the material is in the public domain or is no longer protected by copyright law, the material may be placed on reserve as full text without restriction. If the faculty member does not hold the copyright, the entire book can be placed on print reserve without restriction, or no more than 10% or one chapter of the text of a complete printed book can be placed on E reserve.Can I put a book from another library on reserve at DePaul?
No, an agreement between libraries stipulates that materials from other libraries cannot be placed on reserve.Can I place my own personal copy of a book on reserve?
The library will put your personal copy of a book on reserve. While the library will make every effort to safeguard materials, it cannot be responsible for any loss or damage of personal copies placed on reserve.Submitting Other Formats
Can I place a video that I copied from a television program on reserve?
Only if it falls under the fair use guidelines. Otherwise, the library will purchase the video to place on reserve or will seek copyright clearance if the video cannot be purchased.Can the library put sound and movie files on E-reserve?
No, not at this time.What is the limit that the library will spend for reserves materials for my course?
Reserves Purchase Limit Policy (effective 8/1/07)Materials purchased for reserves for a single course are limited to a total of $500 per term. The material type most often affected by this policy is DVD/video, because the library must purchase institutional rights which are significantly higher than list price. Materials intended for one-time use or that fall outside the scope of the library collection should be rented by the department. Facets Multimedia can arrange for institutional rental -- call 1-800-532-2387 or email rentals@facets.org. The Library Collection Development Policy's limit of one copy per title will also apply to reserves requests. If your course reserves requests exceed these limits, your subject bibliographer will contact you; feel free to contact this person if you have questions about this policy.
Can I put a rental video or DVD on reserve in the library?
No, rental materials cannot be placed on reserve. We will make every effort to purchase the items within the limits above.
