The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries offers all teaching faculty and staff the opportunity to place material on reserve in order to ensure that all students in the class have access to it. All formats are acceptable, including print, e-books, journal articles, DVD/CD and streaming music/video.
Print and other physical formats can be placed on reserves for loan at any UNL Libraries location and e-formats are linked to individual course Blackboard pages via my.UNL. Library staff is available to work with individual faculty and courses to provide personalized service.
Additional information and reserve submission forms are available here.
Course information submitted for Summer 2016 by May 2 and Fall 2016 by August 8 will receive the highest priority. Reserve requests turned in after the deadline will be processed in the order they are received.
I. Library books and personal books
Books can be physically put on reserve and made available in city and east campus libraries. Books can be requested from the UNL libraries to be placed on reserve by using the electronic reserve form.
Personal copies of books will follow the same procedure as library books. The libraries are not responsible for personal copies placed on reserve.
It is encouraged to remind students that a UNL I.D. card is required to check out items on reserve. Books are reserved by the book’s title. If a chapter is assigned from a book, please make sure the syllabus lists the complete title of the book as it is listed in the library catalogue in addition to the chapter title.
II. Electronic reserves
The procedure for processing electronic reserves has changed. All electronic reserves are attached to each course and can only be accessed through Blackboard.
Course instructors will need to create a content area in the Blackboard tools box to directly link their electronic reserves. Know that each course, especially cross-listed courses, will need an individual content area created in Blackboard. Teacher assistants enrolled in the course will also be allowed to create content areas.
For more information on how to create a content area in Blackboard, click here.
The types of materials that can be made available electronically include:
Exams
Lecture notes
Student papers (which must be approved by the student)
Government publications
One article from a journal issue
One chapter from a book
Materials placed on Electronic Reserve are accessible only to students and others affiliated with the course. Photocopied materials consisting of two or more articles from a journal issue, or more than one chapter from a single book, must have copyright compliance or meet the criteria under the fair use guidelines for classroom copying in not-for-profit educational institutions.
A personal web page is also linked to the E-Reserve system. E-mail the URL, with the class name, instructor and phone number to one of the contact people listed at the end of the memo.
III. Processing time
A reserve list may take one to four business days for processing. Because a great number of requests are received from instructors to place items on reserve, please be aware that materials will not be processed and available at the time of submission.
Requests submitted on the first day of class and during the first three weeks of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters may experience some delay in processing. In the event that the materials requested are unavailable, the request will also experience some delay.
To ensure the requests are processed in a timely manner:
Supply complete citations of materials.
When requesting a personal copy of a book or other personal material placed on reserve, remember to include it with the request.
IV. Removing items from reserve
Reserve materials will be removed one week after the corresponding session has ended, unless the class is to be taught the following semester. Copyrighted items may not be renewed for consecutive semesters unless a letter of approval from the publisher is submitted.
For more information, contact Tara Lavy, Love Library at 402-472-2522; or Gayleen Hill, CY Thompson Library at 402-472-4401 or ghill1@unl.edu.
