Penn State University Libraries - Course Reserves

Penn State Course Reserves Policy

Copyright Policy

Students

• Course reserves are supplemental materials that instructors place in the library or online to enhance a class. Often, these are materials that are expensive or out of print that cannot be purchased by the student. Some instructors place their own copies on reserve, while other items on reserve may be on library loan. Some common course reserve items are books, articles, cds, videos, maps, answers to homework problems and copies of old tests.
• A course reserve search can be done by accessing the CAT. Click on the Course Reserves button on the top menu bar.
• You may choose to enter the instructor's last Name, the Course ID (ENGL 050), or the Course Name ( Introduction to Creative Writing).
• Clicking on the highlighted URL can access electronic Course Reserves.
• Course Reserves placed in the library are located behind the Circulation Desk. Be prepared to give the course number and name of your instructor to request materials. In order to borrow reserve materials, students must be registered with the library and present a Penn State ID.

Instructors

• Submitting Items: To place an item on course reserve at Eiche Library, please complete a Course Reserve Form.  Paper forms are available at the library Service Desk or complete the online form.
  
• Ordering Material for Reserve: The library may order materials not located in the Penn State Altoona library but owned within the Penn State system.  Instructors may place an order by completing the Order Request.
• We cannot guarantee processing times for ordered material.
• Permanent Reserve: Only non-copyrighted materials, such as exams or syllabi, may be allowed to remain on reserve indefinitely.
• Reference Material: Reference material is generally not available for course reserve.  In some cases reference material may be placed on reserve with permission from a reference librarian.
• Item Limits: Due to limited space on the library's reserve shelves, please keep requested reserve materials to a minimum.  Course reserves are intended for supplemental or research material that students will be required to borrow.  Photocopied material is limited to 3 copies.
• End of Semester: At the end of each semester, reserve shelves are cleared and materials will be returned to the instructor.  If you wish to keep materials on reserve longer than one semester, please note this on your request form. University Park generates a reserve report at the end of each semester. This report is emailed to each instructor as a notice that the reserves period has expired. Students must use items on a regular basis for them to be kept on reserve longer than one semester.  Some materials are subject to copyright law and may not be retained longer than one semester.  Photocopied materials must be removed at the end of each semester.
• Loan Period: Please select a loan period on your request form.  This loan period will not be changed unless requested by the instructor.  Due to copyright law, photocopied materials must be given a 2 hour (Room Reserve) loan period.

Please note that the library cannot be held responsible for personal copies of material that become lost, damaged or stolen while on loan for patrons.