How Do I Make a Reserves Request?

• Which library should I start with?
• The University Reserves Database
• Placing a request with University Reserves

Which library should I start with?

Be advised that there are a number of options to check. University Reserves is not the only reserves unit on campus, though we serve a variety of colleges and departments. Check this list of reserves units if you can't find your class through University Reserves.

The University Reserves Database

The University Reseves Database can be accessed from your office or home computer. You must be able to use Library Authentication, and the first time you visit the URD you must go through a brief registration process.

The University Reserves Database has a main navigation bar consisting of five choices.

• The "home, news, and notices" tab displays any announcements about the system.
• The "create a request" tab allows you to a) add items to your portion of the database and b) submit a request for items to the Reserves Office.
• "Items used in the past" will display everything you have ever added to the database.
• "Review requests" will show you specific requests you have made ot the Reserves Office.
• And "personal information" allows you to edit the display of your name, your campus address, phone number and email. (It is important to use your campus address in "personal information" so that we may, if necessary, return items to you by campus mail.)

Placing a request through the University Reserves Database ensures fastest processing, and can be done from your office or home computer.

There are five steps to the process. All five must be completed for University Reserves to receive your request; completion of only 4 steps will mean that you have populated the database with your citations, but does not mean that your request was sent. You may wish to add all of your citations slowly, over time, and wait until they are complete to send your request; however, it is not necessary, and the reserves office can start working on your requests earlier.

Step 1: Fill in course information. Choose the term, estimate your enrollment (it doesn't have too be exact, and choose department and course number. If your department and course number are not listed, you should select "NOT LISTED" and manually fill in the number.

Important: how you cross-list must be consistent every time you place a request, or your courses will not display properly. Make sure that there is one course you always treat as the main course, and subsequent courses are always all filled in for cross-listing.

Step 2: Once you have confirmed your information, you will be shown a list of all the items you have entered into the database. There is a drop-down menu that will allow you to sort by the class you associated them with before. If you do not want to add old items, just skip to the bottom of the page, and go to Step 3.

Step 3: click on the "Add a New Item" drop-down menu.

Choose the appropriate item type from the list. If you cannot decide which category your item falls into, select "General Private Copy--" it has the most flexible entry field.

As you add individual items, they will appear in the "Items Requested So Far" section of the page.

When you have gone through all the items, click "Done Adding Items." This adds all of the items to the database under your name--but it does not send a request to University Reserves. You can fill the database this way and send a request later, if you wish.

Step 4: this is your chance to review your request. The course information and items all display at the bottom of the page.

If you are satisfied, click on "Finished-Send my request." If you are not satisfied, use your back button to go back and add more items.

Step 5: Finished!

If, for some reason, the database does not work for you, we are happy to troubleshoot the technical side with you.

We will also take your requests by email or on paper. However, rekeying these requests does take some time, adding days to turn-around times during the busiest part of the year.