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Finding Course Materials on Reserves

Records for all course reserves for the many University Library departmental libraries (including print reserve materials, electronic reserves, and any media items) are in the Library Online Catalog via its Course R eserves module and is the only way to locate these items.

How to locate Reserves

Go to the UIUC Library Online Catalog, and click Course R eserves. Select either the appropriate Instructor  or Course from the drop down menu(s).   Then click Search to retrieve a list of reserved titles with course instructor's name for that course.  Click on the title to see the title record for more details, including the location (e.g., "Biology Reserves--Temporarily Shelved at Biology Reserves", or link to the full text copy when available). Further details for Electronic and Print Reserves below.

Electronic Reserves

Articles, book chapters, lecture notes, exams, reserves lists, and other select photocopied items are processed as electronic reserves.  After searching  Course R eserves , click on the title in the results list, then click on the E-Items  link on the item record.  Click link of desired title.  Read the Copyright restrictions information.  Click View the Reserve Item.  The .pdf version will open.   For complete instructions see tutorial.  Books, booklets, and course packs are retrieved from the Reserves Area at the Biology Library (See next section below).

Note:   You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open .pdf files.  All library computers have this loaded.  To obtain free software for your personal computer, go to Adobe Reader at < http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/> to download. 

Additionally there is a link to just electronic reserves that are currently accessible here, which works when Online Library Catalog is having technical difficulties.

E-reserves can be printed either inside or outside of the library.  LibPrint is the Library’s public-printing system.  If printed within the UIUC library system, black-and-white printouts are 10 cents a page.  (See LibPrint FAQ's for information about color printing available at Undergraduate Library which you can print to from any Library unit.) 

Students, faculty, or staff can charge printouts to their University Account.  When paying cash, printouts will need to be picked up and payments may be made at the Undergraduate Library Circulation desk.  For more information, see FAQ “ How can I print from the Biology Library’s computers?” 

Print Reserves (Biology Library)

Books, booklets, and course packs placed in Course Reserves for the Schools of Integrative Biology (SIB) and Molecular & Cellular Biology (SMCB) and selected other courses are shelved behind the Biology Library Circulation desk. Patrons may enter the Reserves area to get items for themselves.  Materials must be checked out by the library staff at the turnstile. Leave backpacks, etc., outside the reserve area.  Every borrower must show a valid I-card when checking out reserve materials. Materials on temporary reserve are arranged alphabetically by courses.  Items on permanent GENERAL reserve are arranged by call number.  For security reasons, only 4 people are allowed in the reserves area at one time. Each person may check out only 4 items at one time.

Print items can be checked out for 2 hours only, with no renewals. Items checked out within one hour of closing may be kept overnight but must be returned during the first hour the library is open the next day.  Exceptions are those titles that are labeled "Room Use Only" which cannot leave the library.

Note:   Be sure to get these items returned on time. Fines for over due reserves mount quickly  (see Fines).

HELP !

See E-Reserve Quick Problem-Solving Guide,  Video Tutorial on Searching for Reserves, or Text-based Tutorial on Searching for Reserves  for information on searching for Course Reserves.

To place items on reserve for a class you are teaching, see Placing Course Materials on Reserve. If you need help, just Ask-A-Librarian or contact a Biology Library staff member (333-3654 or biolib@uiuc.edu, or stop by at 101 Burrill Hall during our scheduled hour [HYPERLINK THIS TO NEW PAGE) !

For comments on this page contact: Biology Library

Last modified by: Jie Zhao on 8/20/08