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Reserve Procedures (Main Library)

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It is never too early to provide information about the materials to be placed on reserve! We begin processing reserve for the next semester as soon as exams end. We can't guarantee the availability of materials requested less than 2 weeks before classes begin.

Copyright Guidelines

Instructors are responsible for insuring copyright compliance. See our Copyright Policy for Library Course Reserves for more information.

Tangible Reserve (books, films, recordings, etc.)

Request the purchase of new materials as soon as you are aware of the need, using the online order form.

For materials that Oberlin owns provide:

  • department and course number for the class (e.g. RHET 325)
  • semester when it is needed on reserve
  • title of the item
  • call number
  • number of people expected in the class (we may order additional copies of an item if the class is large)

Email this information to reserve.main@oberlin.edu or the appropriate supervisor.

Use OBIS to create a reserve list.

You may place personal copies of legally obtained materials on reserve for your classes, as long as you don't mind that we will place labels on the material to allow them to circulate. We regret that we are unable to place materials borrowed via OhioLINK or ILL on reserve. If we are unable to purchase materials for reserve, we will consult you about copying portions of the works to place on Blackboard, in accordance with our copyright policy.

Typical loan periods are 3 hours for printed materials and films with a single copy (5 hours for films with multiple copies). Materials are usually released for overnight loan at 11pm (7 pm on Friday and Saturday) and are due at 11am the next morning. Other loan periods are available, in consultation with the appropriate reserve supervisor.

Electronic Reserve (via Blackboard)

For journal articles, search the Journal Finder to see if we have electronic access (via JSTOR, OhioLINK Electronic Journal Center, etc.) from a licensed for openly accessible source. Such links are preferable to locally scanned copies as the quality of images is greater, and the question of copyright is more clearly settled.

If electronic access is not available from another source the Library will scan readings for reserve purposes.

For materials to be linked from other sources or scanned by the Library please provide:

  • department and course number for the class (e.g. RHET 325)
  • semester when it is needed on reserve
  • complete citation information

Email this information to reserve.main@oberlin.edu or the appropriate supervisor.

To enable library staff to place files and links in Blackboard, contact OCTET to request library access for your course(s). This gives library staff permission ONLY to create a new content area called Library Readings and upload and manage files in this area.

Last updated:
July 8, 2013