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Course Reserves Information For Faculty

Contact Course Reserves: reserves@ucsd.edu, (858) 534-1212

How do I put an item on reserve for my class?

Log into Course Reserves with your Active Directory (AD) login. Select the course you want to work on, and then click on Add Reserves Items from the side menu. You will then be able to add items in any format (books, articles, video, etc.).

View the Faculty User Guide for Course Reserves 

Course Reserves Request Criteria

Due to changing publishing, educational, and budgetary landscapes, all requested course material must meet the following criteria to be placed on reserve in the Library:

    1. Only required course material will be considered for placement on Course Reserves; requested supplemental items cannot be accommodated.
    2. The Library’s cost for any item/title for Course Reserves should not exceed $600 (per copy). Items exceeding this threshold require approval by Library Leadership before being acquired AND must be needed/used for at least 2 academic quarters within a one year period. The Library cannot guarantee that items exceeding $600 may be readily obtainable.
    3. The Library’s cost for Course Reserve materials should not exceed $1,000 per course in any single academic term.
    4. When purchasing or licensing Course Reserve requests, the Library will determine the item’s format (physical vs electronic) based on affordability/sustainability, regardless of the instructor’s preferred format. 
    5. A ratio of 1 copy or simultaneous user per 100 students is the formula for both physical and electronic Course Reserve acquisitions. For example, if a course has 275 students, either 2 physical books or 2 simultaneous user seats for electronic materials will be made available.
    6. Requested items that require copyright permission will be limited to $10 per student, per item each term. Items that exceed this limit will be denied, and offered in a format sustainable for the Library when available.

What if the library does not own the item I'd like to put on reserve?

You may provide a department or personal copy for use by course reserves. If you are able to provide us with a copy, these will be barcoded and labeled with a call number. Because course reserves are heavily used, we cannot guarantee that your copy will be returned to you in the same condition.

If you are not able to provide us with a copy, course reserves staff will attempt to acquire it. Please note requested books will be purchased based on affordability/sustainability, either in physical or electronic form. This option is not available for media items. 

When should I submit my course reserve request?

Requests are accepted at any time, but to ensure that materials are available for the first day of classes, please submit requests as soon as your new courses are visible within the course reserves system, usually within the last 2-3 weeks of instruction of the previous quarter. Requests are processed in the order they are received.

I submitted my request several days ago. Why aren't my materials available?

Easily obtained or readily available materials can take up to a week to process, while several factors can cause delays in processing, particularly for items needing to be purchased or licensed. Log into course reserves to check the status of individual items. Don't hesitate to contact us us with questions.

My students cannot access electronic reserves. What is the problem?

Make sure the student is fully registered for the course. Students will log into course reserves with their Active Directory (AD) accounts. If they are accessing materials from off-campus, please direct them to our Off-Campus Access page. Students may also contact ETS for help.

What are the copyright policies for electronic reserves?

All instructors are responsible for ensuring that materials they request for placement on course reserves are in compliance with our copyright policy. Library staff will determine and coordinate any permission requests for re-posting previously used electronic reserves. 

A complete overview of the Library’s copyright policy for various resources can be found here. 

Can I post lecture notes?

Yes! You can post lecture notes, customized problem sets, practice exams and solutions, study guides, and other original classroom materials.

Can I post material that was created by my former students?

In order to comply with the terms of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the library requires that student authors or creators sign a release form.

I want to show a film during one of my classes. Can I do this?

Films may be shown in the classroom only with an instructor or teaching assistant present. Titles may not be shown outside the classroom or to the general public, even if no admission is charged. You may stream the film directly from the provider’s website. For material that is not available via streaming, you may check the physical item out from Geisel Library’s Front Desk. Contact us in advance or indicate on your course reserve submission form which date you will show the film so we can have it ready for you to pick up. Reservations submitted less than 7 days before your use date cannot be guaranteed. If an item you want to use is on reserve for another class, you must pick it up at Geisel’s Front Desk on the day you need it, with a 1-day check-out. UCSD Media Services Support will not bring library films to the classroom.