Course Reserves
Course reserves are supplementary teaching materials reserved by a professor for students to use in a specific course. All course reserves are listed in our Reserves Binder located at the circulation desk. The Reserves Binder is categorized by the professor's last name and/or academic department.
The checkout period for course reserves is limited by the professor to Library Use Only, one day, three days or seven days.
The late fine is $5 per day.
Course reserves have no grace period and no renewal options.
A valid USC Upstate ID is required for checkout.
E-reserves are digital photocopies of book chapters, articles, short stories, etc. and are available in a convenient, downloadable PDF format. E-reserves may be accessed 24/7 on our Course Reserves webpage using a valid USC Upstate username and password. (See below for a list of current e-reserves.)
For more information about course reserves, e-reserves, or copyright laws, please contact our Course Reserve Specialist.
INFORMATION FOR FACULTY
Course reserves are supplementary teaching materials reserved by a professor for students to use in a specific course.
The purpose of course reserves is to ensure the availability of these important supplementary materials and to provide each student in the class fair and equal access. Shorter checkout periods and higher late fines help to ensure that these materials are returned quickly and ready for the next student.
Please keep in mind that these shorter checkout periods and higher late fines also apply to the other 5,000-plus students, staff, and faculty who make up the USC Upstate community.
All course reserve requests are subject to approval by the library circulation department.
Most books, DVDs, and CDs owned by USC Upstate, as well as personal materials owned by USC Upstate faculty, may be placed on course reserve at the circulation desk at any time during the semester with a limit of 25 items per course, per semester.
Reference books and periodicals are not eligible for course reserve.
The checkout period for course reserves is limited. The professor may choose from the following options: Library Use Only, one day, three days or seven days.
The late fine is $5 per day.
Course reserves have no grace period and no renewal options.
Audio-visual materials, such as DVDs, CDs, and VHSs, are not eligible for Library Use Only status and must have a checkout period of at least one (1) day.
To request a course reserve, simply fill out our online Reserve Request form, print it, and drop it off at the circulation desk along with the materials you wish to place on course reserve. After approval, materials will be placed on course reserve starting on the first day of the semester and will be removed from course reserve on the last day of the semester. Please allow three (3) business days for processing course reserves and seven (7) days for e-reserves.
Personal materials should include the owner's name and contact information on the inside cover. Reserve stickers and barcodes will be affixed to all materials on course reserve. While we always try to take the very best care of your personal materials, in some cases the removal of these stickers and barcodes may cause damage to those materials. The library is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged personal materials.
E-reserves are digital photocopies of book chapters, articles, short stories, essays, poems, class lecture notes or student research papers. E-reserves serve the same purpose as course reserves while offering the added advantage of a convenient, downloadable PDF format. E-reserves may be accessed 24/7 on our Course Reserves webpage using a valid USC Upstate username and password. (Internet access is required.)
E-reserves are subject to U.S. copyright laws.
U.S. copyright laws (Title 17 of the United States Code) prohibit the unauthorized reproduction and/or distribution, in part or in whole, of any copyrighted publication. However, professional educators are granted a little flexibility in this area due to the "Fair Use" agreement (H.R. Rep. No. 94-1733, 94th Cong., 2d Sess., September 29, 1976). Here is a quick and easy questionnaire to find out if your e-reserve request is permitted by U.S. copyright laws and the Fair Use agreement.
- Is the original source either (A) owned by USC Upstate or (B) your personal property?
- Is the selection limited to one (1) chapter, article, essay, short story, poem or illustration?
- Is the selection less than 10% of the entire book or periodical?
- Is the selection intended for use in only one (1) course? (Multiple sections are OK.)
- Is this the first time you've requested this particular selection for e-reserve?
- Is the selection from a non-consumable source? (Consumables are workbooks, standardized tests, answer sheets, etc. and are specifically prohibited from unauthorized reproduction.)
If you answered Yes to all the questions above, then your selection is probably in accordance with U.S. copyright laws and Fair Use agreement guidelines and therefore eligible for e-reserve. (If you answered No to any of the questions above, please contact our Course Reserve Specialist for more information on U.S. copyright laws, the Fair Use agreement, and e-reserve eligibility.)
For more information about course reserves, e-reserves, or copyright laws, please contact our Course Reserve Specialist.
NOTE: Electronic Reserves are in Acrobat (.pdf) format. In order to read these files, users must have the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
