Course Reserves - Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ for Students

What are Reserves and E-Reserves?
Reserve materials are books, photocopies of journal articles and book chapters, or audiovisual items an instructor places on reserve to supplement assigned coursework. The loan period for reserve items is restricted according to the instructor's preference to ensure availability to the entire class. Loan periods can range from two hours to three days.

E-Reserves are photocopies of journal articles and book chapters that are placed on the Internet and can be accessed at any time, on or off-campus, by a password given to your instructor. You can access E-Reserves at this link.

Who may borrow reserve materials?
Anyone with a valid ODU ID card may borrow reserve items.

How do I find reserve materials?
Shelf Reserve materials can be found by searching by Course Name or Number or by Professor, Lecturer, or Instructor Name. E-Reserves can be accessed here.

Where are reserve materials located?
Reserve shelf materials are located behind the Circulation Services Desk. Electronic reserve materials can be accessed online 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on or off campus, using the password provided by the instructor.

Can reserve items be copied, and if so, where can I make copies?
Yes, you may make one copy of a reserve item for your own use. Photocopiers are located on the Top and Middle Floors of the Library. Copies are .10 each.

How do I access electronic reserves?
Electronic reserves are accessed by searching for the course page in the Electronic Reserves Catalog. Items listed for each course are accessed by using the password provided by the instructor. These items are available in Adobe Acrobat PDF (Portable Document Format) files, which require Acrobat Reader.

What are the loan periods and fines for reserve materials?

2-hour reserve materials are due two hours from the time of check-out and may not be taken out of the Library. A ten-cent ($.10) fine is charged per hour for each 2-hour reserve material returned late.

1-day reserve materials are due 24 hours from the time of check-out. A one-dollar ($1.00) fine is charged per day for each 1-day reserve material returned late.

3-day reserve materials are due 72 hours from the time of check-out. A one-dollar ($1.00) fine is charged per day for each 3-day reserve material returned late.

FAQ for Faculty

How do I request that items be placed on reserve?
Complete the online Course Reserves Request form or stop by the Circulation Services Desk to complete the print version.

When should I submit materials for reserve?
You may request to have items placed on reserve at any time, but please be aware that there is a rush of requests at the beginning of each term. Therefore, we recommend submitting them as soon as possible before the term. Please allow up to two weeks processing time.

Can I place my own personal copy on reserve?
Yes, but the Library is not responsible for damage or loss of personal books, photocopies, computer discs, CDs, etc. while they are in use on reserve. A record is created in the library catalog for each item; and each item is processed with a barcode, security strip, and reserve sticker.

Is copyright an issue with regard to course reserves?
Yes. Photocopies of articles and book chapters may be placed on reserve for only one term without copyright permission. If you wish to place a copy of an article or a book chapter for a longer period, you must obtain copyright permission from the author or publisher and possibly pay a fee. For more information concerning copyright, please review Copyright Resources.

What should I tell my students about course reserves?
In order to check out reserve shelf materials, students will need to bring their ODU ID card to the Circulation Services Desk of the Library, and they will need to know the title for each item they wish to check out. In order to access electronic reserve materials, students will need to know the course password given to you by the Circulation Services Librarian or Circulation Services Assistant.

Can I put items owned by other libraries on reserve?
No. Only items belonging to the Ohio Dominican University Library or to individual professors may be placed on reserve. Since it is against OhioLINK policy to place another library's items on Reserve, the library will not place items borrowed through OhioLINK on reserve. It is also against policy to place outside libraries' (public or private) items on reserve. With advance planning and assistance from your liaison, we recommend that materials needed for class assignments that are not already in the ODU Library’s collection be acquired using your library allocation funds.

In compliance with interlibrary loan regulations, it is against our policy to place on reserve a copy of article that was obtained through interlibrary loan.

How long are materials kept on reserve?
You may select a removal date on the Course Reserves Request form. At the end of the term or on the removal date, the materials will be taken off reserve. Faculty who have submitted personal copies will be notified by e-mail as to when and where to retrieve their materials.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about course reserves?
If you have any questions or concerns regarding course reserve procedures or policies, please contact Cathy Kellum or Jillian Carney at 614 251-4676 or circulation@ohiodominican.edu.