The University Library is announcing the launch of a new course reserves service designed to better support curriculum needs.  This updated service is a result of a year-long evaluation and planning process that engaged both faculty and students on ways to improve access and use of course-related materials through emerging technologies in the campus environment. The outcome is a new curriculum support service that will begin Fall 2009.   

Information For Faculty

Requesting Electronic Resources
Faculty are encouraged to request articles, book chapters, etc. for course support via the library’s 7-FAST service.  This service is free for faculty, graduate students, and proxies.   In many cases, requests will be filled more quickly.  Articles and/or book chapters will be posted to faculty as a PDF to a secure website, where one will be able to download that file and post it immediately to a CTools course site for direct student access.  

Requesting Print Resources
Books and other physical materials will be placed on reserve for student use. Faculty may request print resources for course support via the reserves services at the following libraries:

• Shapiro (University Reserves supporting LSA, School of Education, School of Information, School of Kinesiology, School of Natural Resources, School of Public Policy, and the Rackham Graduate School)
• Art Architecture & Engineering
• Fine Arts
• Music
• Public Health
• Social Work
• Taubman

This service is free for faculty, graduate students, and proxies.  A link will be available to the course CTools site that will list the available print items and their locations. This is the same method the Library currently uses for handling print reserves. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.

Help for Faculty
There are various support services available to assist faculty with providing course-related materials to students.

• Faculty may speak with Course Reserves staff located in the libraries listed above, for one-on-one consultations about course reserves materials and services.
• Faculty looking for research consultation or help identifying materials to include in a course are encouraged to contact library staff. Contact a subject specialist/ librarian liaison who can assist with finding additional resources for a course, help instructors identify new online materials, and provide course-specific instruction for students.
• Faculty interested in an overview of the new process may attend one of the library's summer workshops titled, Using the Library's New Course Reserves Service.
• Faculty interested in learning more about CTools can attend CTools workshops that are offered over the summer; use the CTools online help; or contact the Faculty Exploratory for assistance.
• Faculty who would like assistance in learning how to scan print materials into an electronic format for posting to a CTools site may make an appointment with expert staff in the Knowledge Navigation Center (second floor of the Hatcher Graduate Library) or in the Tech Deck (first floor of the Shapiro Undergraduate Library).

Help For Students

Students who need assistance in locating print-based course reserve items may want to:

• Speak with library staff located in the Shapiro Library building, in Art, Architecture & Engineering, Fine Arts, Music, Public Health, Social Work or Taubman Medical Library.
• Search the Mirlyn library catalog to find books by author or title for required texts. Look for the library location of Reserves to determine which library desk holds the textbook(s). Having problems finding course reserve items in Mirlyn? Just Ask a Librarian!
• Look for the Library Reserves tool in the course CTools site.

Students who are looking for online or electronic articles, book chapters, etc. should check the course CTools site or ask the instructor.