Reserves Services Policy

Purpose of Reserves Services

The University Libraries Reserves Services Unit provides controlled access to limited portions of library-owned materials as well as personal copies that support classroom instruction. Access to Reserves items may be provided electronically, through Blackboard, or in print. Reserves materials include items that are essential to a course and may be in high demand. Materials are placed on Reserves at the request of instructional faculty only, and can include books and book chapters, articles, exams, quizzes, class notes, CDs, DVDs, video recordings, and other materials.

Copyright and Fair Use

Reserves policy is based on the United States Copyright Act of 1976. §107 of the Copyright Law specifies that it is a fair use to make a copy of a copyrighted work “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research.” This section further lays out the following four factors in order to determine whether the use of a work is fair use:

1. The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.
2. The nature of the copyrighted work.
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

A checklist is provided to assist the requesting faculty in determining whether a selection chosen for Reserves is likely to be fair use. It is recommended that the requesting faculty member review this checklist for each item being placed on Reserves, and the submission forms for Reserves has a box that must be initialed to indicate that the checklist has been reviewed. However, while it is recommended that the checklist be kept by the requesting faculty member/instructor for his or her own records, the checklist does not need to be turned into the Reserves office. Please note that the U.S. Copyright Law is subject to change. If it should, the library may have to revise this policy without advanced notice in order to stay in compliance.

Print Reserves

The library will place at least one copy of the book title on Print Reserves when the faculty member requests that title. The instructor may also place personal copies of book on Print Reserves. The University Libraries strive to safeguard all materials that are placed in the library; however, the Reserves Services Unit assumes no responsibility for loss or damage to personal copies. Personal copies are subject to library policy and will be given Reserves labels and Reserves call numbers, which will be affixed to the material. Instructors are required to sign a damage waiver upon submitting personal copy books. Personal copies will be returned once the listed items are taken off Reserves.

In cases where selections for Electronic Reserves exceed 15% or 1 chapter, the Reserves staff will contact the requesting faculty member to inquire whether the faculty member would prefer to reduce the selection or whether the entire work should be placed on Print Reserves.

The following may not be placed on Print Reserves: Books lent by other universities or libraries via interlibrary loan, course packets, or consumables (such as workbooks, which are intended for one-time use).

If requested items are not owned by NIU Libraries, those titles will be referred to the appropriate library subject specialist for possible purchase. Materials that need to be ordered will require extra processing time. Please consider loaning a personal copy before requesting that a book be ordered for purchase, especially if the item is needed for early in the semester.

Electronic Reserves (E-Reserves)

Reserves will put up to 15% or 1 chapter of an item on Electronic Reserves. If a larger percentage is desired, the requesting faculty member might consider placing the entire work on Print Reserves (for books).

A larger percentage of the work can be placed on reserve, if the requesting faculty member is the copyright owner, or if the requesting faculty member has obtained written permission from the copyright owner to post a larger percentage. Faculty members will need to provide a copy of the written permission letter to post items on Reserves. Please note that when written permission is obtained from copyright holders, that is on a one-semester basis. If the requesting faculty member wants to keep an item on Reserves longer than one semester, written permission will need to be obtained from the copyright holder again.

Links will be provided for material in the public domain. Before making assignments, please confirm that the items that have been requested have been made available in Reserves.

The following may not be placed on E-Reserves: Readings available as course packs at the campus bookstore, consumables (such as workbooks), or unpublished works by anyone other than the requesting instructor (unless the requesting instructor has obtained written permission).

The Reserves Services Unit reserves the right to decline a request if we feel it violates our Copyright/Fair Use Policy.

Placing Readings on Reserves

The procedure, forms, and deadlines for submitting readings can be found in the Reserves Processing and Maintenance Room (Room 139) of Founders Memorial Library or on the library homepage.

Physical materials can be dropped off in Room 139 of Founders Memorial Library. Reserve reading/book requests can also be submitted on the standard form that is available from the Reserves office for this purpose. The completed form may be emailed or dropped off at Reserve office in Room 139, or the Circulation Desk in Founders Memorial Library.

Reserve material requests for the branch libraries should be sent to the appropriate branch library.

Please submit the course syllabus for each course for which Reserves items are being requested.

Submission Requirements for Electronic Reserves

• Complete list of full bibliographic citations, including information for electronic sources.
• Complete set of readings in digital or print format.

Format for Submissions

• Paper – must be clean, will be scanned by reserve services staff creating PDF format.
• Online Source – Stable address to database, online journal, or other full-text source.
• Email - PDF as an email attachment.

Access

To have access to E-Reserves, faculty must request Blackboard for each course and section every semester. This can be done several months in advance before the semester begins.

Please do not wait until the first week of classes, as this will delay access to your reserves page.

You can obtain help for requesting Blackboard for your courses by calling ITS at 815-753-8100 or online.

Reserves staff will inform the instructor when the E-Reserves readings page has been posted. Instructors must then activate the E-Reserves link on their Blackboard page and set up the student access to the course. These instructions must be followed even if you do not plan to actively use Blackboard. Students gain access by logging into Blackboard and selecting the course. More information can be found online.

For the purposes of copyright compliance, the electronic access of Reserves readings is limited to students officially enrolled in the course for which the readings are requested and is password protected.

Accessibility for all students is important to the Reserves Processing Staff. Instructors are encouraged to inform us as soon as possible if any students require special adaptation for visual, mobility, cognitive, or learning disabilities.