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Course Reserves

Instructors and Students: Learn how to navigate, incorporate, and use Course Reserves in your class. Best practices, instructions, FAQs and more!

Available Services during COVID 19

During the Library's COVID-19 closure, Course Reserves will continue to provide services for all ISU classes. Instructors can request these services via Canvas. 

  • We will locate, obtain and make available: electronic documents (articles, e-books, etc.) and video/audio streaming
  • We will accept and make available electronic materials from instructors (sending files with scanned portions of books will be accepted)
  • We will accept and process requests for scanning items from the library's collection and instructor's personal copies as long as possible, otherwise every effort will be made to get an electronic version from another library
  • We will not scan entire books. 
  • If there is something we cannot provide, we will try to assist you in finding alternatives.
  • If an instructor needs to extend access to course materials after the end of a semester, contact us and we will reactivate the course materials needed.

As this situation is constantly changing for everyone, please bear with us as we try to process your requests as quickly as possible.  Any changes to our services will be posted here.

Please contact us (ereserve@iastate.edu) if you have any questions or problems.

 

What is Course Reserves?

The ISU Library's Course Reserves service works with instructors to make available required course materials for current classes. Instructors work with Library staff to create course lists of these materials, the majority of which are available full-text or streaming online and can be accessed by students 24/7. This allows students to access online course lists and required materials easily. Users will need to visit the Parks Library Main Desk or Design Reading Room Circulation Desk to access any "hard copy" reserve materials (books, DVDs, etc.).

I am an instructor. Why should I use Course Reserves?

The Library's Course Reserves staff are important partners for faculty in putting together required materials in many formats and making them available for students. Course Reserves staff also manage all relevant copyright issues (including fees) related to posting or distributing copyrighted materials within the Course Reserves system. This service saves time and money for faculty and the ISU community.  Students benefit with easy 24/7 accessibility of online course materials and no costly coursepacks.

 

Hard copy materials are not going away!

Course Reserves still maintains a hard copy collection at the Parks Library Main Desk and the Design Reading Room Circulation Desk.  All requested materials will be listed in the canvas courses, but the hard copy materials listed will supply the call number students need to check those materials out.