Course Reserves: Information for Faculty

Course Reserves Policy & Guidelines

Yale University supports teaching with electronic course reserves and similar analog and digital services. The primary function of these services is to ensure that students and instructors will have timely access to course-related library resources.

Course Reserves

Course Reserves are short-term loans of print materials, videos, audiotapes, and other materials that are required for the teaching of a current course and placed on reserve at a Library facility by the instructor. At the end of the semester, all items will be removed from reserve and re-shelved or returned to the instructor.

All materials placed on Course Reserves must belong to either the Library, the course instructor, or the corresponding University department. Materials from non-Yale libraries – including Borrow Direct or Interlibrary Loan items - may not be placed on Reserves. Please contact SML/Bass Reserves at reserves@yale.edu or your local reserves staff if you would like an item ordered for Course Reserves.

eReserves

Electronic reserve materials or eReserves are short-term “loans” of digital materials that are required for the teaching of a current course and placed on electronic reserve by the instructor. eReserves may only be used in compliance with copyright law. At the end of the semester, all items will be removed from eReserve.

Only Yale University students currently enrolled in the course for which those materials are placed, the course instructors, and authorized course auditors may access the designated eReserves course page. All course pages containing eReserve material are password protected.

Putting Material on eReserve

Yale University Library is committed to complying with all applicable intellectual property laws and expect instructors to respect copyright. It is the responsibility of instructors to determine if the material placed on eReserve complies with copyright law.

All materials placed on eReserves must have been lawfully acquired and belong to either the Library, the course instructor, or the corresponding University department. Materials from non-Yale libraries – including Borrow Direct or Interlibrary Loan items - may not be placed on eReserves. Additionally, custom course packs are licensed only for individual student use and cannot be included in eReserves holdings.

• Submit your eReserves request and the library staff will check to see if the Library licenses the resource. In many cases, posting a link to licensed library resources is permitted by license for use in eReserves. Library staff will:
  • Search Library licensed databases, resources, and digital collections
  • Search Yale Library electronic journal holdings
  • Search for eBooks through the online catalog
  • If you need assistance locating Library electronic resources, contact SML/Bass Reserves reserves@yale.edu or your local reserves staff for assistance
• Determine if the item is in the public domain
  • Books published prior to 1923 and U.S. federal government documents generally fall into this category
  • Some items released under a Creative Commons license may permit course use – you must read the license to determine if electronic reserve is a permitted use
• Use fair use tools to help you determine if your use of the item for the course is considered “fair use” under copyright law

If you have any eReserves and copyright related questions please contact SML/Bass Reserves at reserves@yale.edu or your local reserves staff for assistance. 

How to submit Course Reserves requests:

For step by step instructions on how to submit Course Reserve requests via Canvas, follow this guide: Using Canvas for Reserves​

Check the Library for Your Course Materials

• Check to see if the Library owns a physical copy of the material you would like to place on Reserve
  • Search for Books, DVDs, and other items through the online catalog
• Check to see if the Library licenses a resource that provides an electronic version of the material you wish to use for eReserve.
  • Search Library Library licensed databases, resources, and digital collections
  • Search Yale Library electronic journal holdings
  • Search for eBooks through the online catalog
  • If you need assistance locating Library electronic resources, contact reserves@yale.edu or your local reserves staff for assistance

To submit your course reserves, go to Canvas.

For specific Yale course reserves:

Arts Library
Email: artslibraryreserves@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-2643

Bass Library
Email: reserves@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-1872

CSSSI
Email: csssieres@mailman.yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-3439

Divinity Library
Email: divinity.reserve@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-5288

Film Study Center
Email: archer.neilson@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-0149

Medical Library
Email: cwmlreserves@yale.edu

Music Library 
Email: jonathan.manton@yale.edu 
Phone: 203-432-5549

Help is available Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 Email: askyale@gmail.com

 Call: (203) 432-1775

 Text: (203) 826-2053

 Tweet:  @askyale