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University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Reserves Guide for Instructors

This guide provides information for instructors concerning how to request and manage course reserve materials.

General Information about Physical Reserves Requests

Course reserves are kept behind the Circulation Desk and typically circulate for a short time within the building to ensure regular availability. You can request items to be placed on reserves that are currently a part of the Library's collection, your personal/departmental collection, or as purchase for the Library's collection.

When submitting your request(s), please submit a separate form for each course. Requests can be placed well in advance of the semester, but ideally will be submitted at least two weeks before the beginning of the semester. Reserve requests are processed in the order that they are received.

Once your list has been completed, please review your reserves lists in the Library Catalog to ensure that the information appears correctly.  

Requesting Library Books for Reserves

To place Library items on course reserves, first select the Library location where your course reserves items will be shelved.

For reserves at the Main Stacks, Funk ACES Library, or Grainger Engineering Library, please complete and submit the Reserves Request Webform. If you have a syllabus or bibliography, you can also email the Reserves Request Form (MSWord) as an attachment to the appropriate address below:

The Reserves Request Form (MSWord) may also be dropped off at these reserve locations or sent through Campus Mail. 

To request reserves at another Library location, please contact that Library directly. Please note that for the duration of the Altgeld Hall renovation project, Math Reserves will be housed at the Grainger Engineering Library.

Requesting Library DVDs for Reserves

Since moving to the Main Stacks collection, most DVDs in the Library catalog can now be requested online and circulate for 16 weeks to faculty and graduate users. If there is a DVD that you only need to check out to show in class, you can place a request through the Library catalog for pick up at any Library location or delivery through Campus Mail.

If there is a DVD that you'd like to request be placed on course reserve for the semester for students to view in the Library, there are currently two Library locations that have media viewing stations and can support media reserves:
 
Communications Library
122 Gregory Hall
 
Music and Performing Arts Library
1300 Music Building

To request that DVDs be placed on course reserve for the semester, please contact that location directly.

 

Placing Personal Copies on Reserves

To place items that you own on reserves, please bring personal copies to the appropriate reserve location with the completed Reserves Request Form (MSWord). Copies of the form are also available at service desks for your convenience.

Personal copies placed on course reserves will be marked with call number and barcode stickers. The Library assumes no responsibility for damage that could occur while personal copies are on course reserves.

Requesting Purchases for Reserves

The Library is happy to look into acquiring new books to be placed on reserves, and instructors do not need to place a separate request to have individual items purchased. Simply follow the instructions for requesting course reserves as usual, including the books you would like the Library to acquire along with any Library-owned materials. Books and other print materials will be ordered by the processing staff at the reserves location that you select. 

Please note that it can take weeks or months for materials to arrive and be processed. Please submit course reserves requests as early as possible.