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 an instructor requires for the teaching of a current course. An instructor submits a request to the library to place these materials on reserve at a library facility. At the end of each semester, library staff remove these items from reserve, re-shelve them, or return them to the instructor.

The library can only reserve materials that are a part of the library’s collection or belong to a course instructor or corresponding university department. The library cannot put materials from non-Yale libraries on reserve. If we do not own the requested materials, the library can attempt to purchase them.

eReserves

Electronic reserve materials, or eReserves, are short-term “loans” of digital materials that an instructor requires for the teaching of a current course. An instructor submits a request to the library to place these materials on a course-specific eReserves web page. At the end of each semester, library staff remove these items from eReserves. eReserves may only be used in compliance with copyright law.

All course pages containing eReserves material are CAS-authenticated and require a Yale NetID and password.  Access to an eReserves course web page is restricted to:

• Yale University students currently enrolled in the course
• Instructors for the course
• Authorized course auditors

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

All materials placed on eReserves must be lawfully owned or licensed by 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.

The library will provide links to library-licensed content on behalf of instructors. In the event no licensed content is available, instructors are responsible for evaluating, on a case-by-case basis, whether the use of a copyrighted work submitted for eReserves requires permission from the copyright holder, is in the public domain, or qualifies as a “fair use” under copyright law.

Roles and Responsibilities

Instructors will

• Determine if the item is in the public domain
  • Books published in the U.S. prior to 1924 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; or
• Have already received permission from the copyright holder; or
• Claim copyright ownership to the materials; or
• Complete a fair use evaluation
  • Use fair use tools to help you determine if the use of the item for the course is considered “fair use” under copyright law
  • Instructors should review and comply with the Terms of Use and Tips & Good Practices for use of Canvas
  • Instructors should also review the Rights Clearance Guide for Digital Projects. The Guide provides information designed to assist members of the Yale community in understanding the legal issues that may arise in the context of disseminating digital content
  • Instructors must print and save a copy of the completed evaluation for their records

Permission to use the item must be secured if none of the above options apply to your request. The library will assist with seeking permissions through the Copyright Clearance Center. Contact your local reserves unit if you need assistance.

Library staff will

• Check to see if the library licenses the resource
  • In most cases, posting a link to licensed library resources is permitted by license for use in eReserves
  • Search library-licensed databases, resources, and digital collections
  • Search Yale Library electronic journal holdings
  • Search for eBooks through the online catalog
• Seek the necessary permissions through the Copyright Clearance Center for any items that instructors determine are not covered by the copyright statement categories
• Assist and answer questions about eReserves

Contact your local reserves unit if you need 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

Marx Library
Email: marxreserves@mailman.yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-3439

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

Yale Film Archive
Email: yfareserves@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-0149

Medical Library
Email: cwmlreserves@yale.edu

Music Library 
Email: suzanne.lovejoy@yale.edu
Phone: 203-432-5549

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

 Email: askyalelibrary@yale.edu

 Call: (203) 432-1775

 Text: (203) 826-2053