Washington and Lee University

Washington and Lee University

Reserve Guidelines for Faculty

The University Library’s Reserve collection consists of several format types including video, print, and electronic. The electronic format is accessible through the University Library’s Course Reserve page and these items are password protected in order to restrict access to authorized users only.
The Reserve collection in the University Library should complement and enhance classroom instruction. It is not intended to replace course texts.

According to the American Library Association’s Model Policy Concerning College and University Photocopying for Classroom, Research and Library Reserve, the Reserve Unit functions as an extension of the classroom when it makes course readings available to students, and reflects an individual student's right to copy, for personal scholastic use, under the doctrine of fair use. When materials are included as a matter of fair use, Reserve systems should constitute an ad hoc or supplemental source of information for students, beyond a textbook or other materials. Items that are considered, by the University Library staff, to be in excess of fair use (Section 107 of the Copyright Act) may not be placed on Reserve or processed by our Scanning Services Unit.

PLANNING

  • Reserve items are located behind the Information Desk and can be checked out for 2, 4, or 24 hours according to your specifications.
  • Reserves are processed as quickly as possible, and in the order received, consequently reserve requests should be submitted as far in advance as possible to ensure availability for your students.
  • Allow a minimum of 24 hours for new material to be prepared during the week.
  • Requests made after noon on Friday CAN NOT be guaranteed to be on Reserve Before NOON on Monday.
  • Student desk attendants are not trained to place items on reserve.
  • It is most helpful to us if you include a copy of your course syllabus with your reserve requests.

BOOKS FROM OUR STACKS

  • We can pull items you need for reserve from the library's stacks, but only if you supply the call numbers for the specific books you wish to use.   
  • Having us pull the books may delay the processing of your reserve.

PHOTOCOPIES & BOOK CHAPTERS

  • We MUST have full citations for ALL photocopies, for articles, as well as, for excerpts copied from books. Most articles and book chapters will be mounted electronically and access will be restricted to authorized users only.
  • The University Library will be happy to create PDF documents for use on your Blackboard ™ or Sakai site. You will be sent these items as email attachments and must mount them yourself. Please see our Copyright Policy for guidelines on Fair Use.

VIDEOS & DVDs

  • Please provide a list of videos, complete with specific call numbers, so we may make certain your class is watching the version you have assigned. Unless otherwise specified, videos will be placed on 4 hour reserve.
  • To ensure availability, all videos you plan to use in your class should be requested to be placed on Reserve at least one week prior to their use.
  • Many of our videos are used by more than one course and more than one department. You will be notified if another class is using a video you have on reserve so you can coordinate its use with your colleague and hopefully prevent scheduling conflicts. We will cross-reference as needed.
  • No videos from an outside source (borrowed on ILL, rented, etc.) will be placed on reserve. Legal personal copies of videos may be used.

RESERVE ROOM POLICIES

  • Only one reserve item may be checked out at a time.
  • Reserves earn a fine of $1 per hour for each hour (or part thereof) overdue.
  • If two classes are using the same material, we will do our best to accommodate demand. Should conflicts become a problem, we can try to restrict items to in-building use only. Please let us know if your students tell you of any difficulty obtaining items.
  • We would also appreciate your assistance by reminding your classes that reserve items are to be used and returned immediately so others may have access to the material. Students are fined for overdues, but at times the additional incentive of professorial displeasure is needed to inspire cooperation.
  • To give permission for a student to have unusual use of an item on your reserve (extended check-out, more than one item, etc.), please contact the University Library's Access Services Manager, Elizabeth Anne Teaff, so special arrangements can be made. Student desk attendants are not authorized to alter checkout periods or policies.

QUESTIONS

Please contact the Access Services Manager, Elizabeth Anne Teaff at x8645 with any questions or special requests.