Communications Library

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Instructions for Placing Materials on Reserve

The Communications Library Reserves makes books, article photocopies, videotapes and other items available to students as an adjunct to classroom instruction. In order that materials be available by the time the semester begins, we ask that submissions of reserve lists/items be received at least 3 weeks prior to the first day of the semester. Later submissions will be processed in the order they are received, and materials will be placed on reserve as they become available. Early submission of your lists allows enough time for books to be recalled, if needed, or ordered through the Acquisitions Department when not owned by the University Library.


To place items on reserve, please fill out a Reserve Request Form, available in the Communications Library or on our website. We have found that the submission of handwritten lists or syllabi can be confusing and can cause delays. We do not accept telephone reserve requests. In order to insure timely processing, please list the author’s full name, the complete title, and the edition of the book you want on reserve. If you do not specify an edition, we will place the latest edition available on reserve. If a book is not available, you may wish to have us place your personal copy on reserve until a library copy becomes available. For the benefit of the students requesting the material, please include your name, the course section and the approximate number of students enrolled in the course. Items will circulate to your students for a period of 2 hours, unless you specifically request otherwise.

Reserve Request Form (.pdf)


Photocopies of journal articles or chapters of books present a special case. We will place photocopies that you provide on reserve, but they should come under the “fair use” portion of the U.S. Copyright Act. Most questions regarding “fair use” of copyrighted material are addressed on the Copyright Clearance Center’s website.

Copyright Clearance Center Copyright Basics: Fair Use


If you are assigning a large number of articles, you may choose to use a commercial copy shop or the Campus Publishing Services, which assists faculty with copyright clearances and royalty fees, in addition to preparing the course packets. (For more information on course packets, contact Pam Wilson, 244-1455, at Printing Services/Duplicating). Most students make copies of the readings anyway, and considerable time, effort and money may be saved if they can buy a ready-made set of professionally-prepared readings.


To avoid the chance of confusion with regard to your reserve material, it is best if you:

  1. Send a new copy of your reserves list each semester. Please do not simply mark your list “same as last semester.”
  2. Provide photocopies, preferably one copy per 15-20 students, that are crisp and clear.
  3. Make sure photocopies of chapters of books include the title of the book and the author’s name.
  4. Include a copy of your syllabus, if you use one.
  5. Allow us enough time to obtain your reserve books before you give the reading list to your students.


All items will remain on reserve until the end of the semester, at which time library materials will be returned to the shelf and other materials will be returned to you.
Your reserve request list should be sent to: Betsy Karlberg at the Communications Library, 122 Gregory Hall, MC-462. She will be happy to answer your questions and provide assistance.