Course Reserves FAQ for Instructors

Any materials from the library’s main collection such as books, physical course readers, media, e-books, online resources such as Kanopy or Swank, and limited PDF scans (of books, articles, lecture notes, class assignments) can be placed on reserve. These items typically circulate for limited loan periods to maximize student access.

The following generally cannot be placed on reserve:

• New journal subscriptions
• Non-institution licensed material such as Kindle Direct Publishing titles
• Personal copies (unless requested by the library)
• Scanning of entire books for e-reserves
• Non-UCR items borrowed from other institutions (e.g., ILL, other UC materials)
• Course packets from UCR Digital Print Services
• Unlawfully acquired copies (i.e. photocopies, pirated media)
• Media from network online providers such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ due to licensing restrictions
• Materials from Library Special Collections University Archives (SCUA)

UCR instructors (and TA’s on behalf of instructors) can submit Course Reserve requests through the library's online Course Reserves Application.

We recommend submitting requests at least five weeks before classes begin to allow adequate time for processing and purchasing materials for the start of the quarter. Current quarter requests received after week 5 may not be able to be accommodated.

Requests are required for each quarter that materials are needed. A call for submissions for the upcoming quarter will be made towards the end of the current quarter.

Requests are required for each quarter that materials are needed. You can copy previously submitted requests via the “Review Requests” button on the Course Reserves Application.

All physical materials are removed from course reserves at the end of the academic quarter, and returned to the library’s standard collections. All access to electronic content will be removed from YuJa (digital management platform) at the end of the quarter.

Requests for the current quarter must be submitted online using the Course Reserves Application. The system is CAS-authenticated and allows instructors to manage current and future quarter requests, and also copy previous quarter requests. Requests for items that are not assigned course materials should be made through the library’s Suggest a Purchase form.

After submitting your request, you will receive an email confirmation. You can view all current and previous requests using the “Review Request” button listed in the Course Reserves Application. We will review requested materials for each submission and contact you if any additional information is needed.

Once you submit a request, the items can no longer be edited. Please contact us if you need to make changes to previously submitted items.

You can add additional items to a current request by selecting “Review Requests” in the Course Reserves Application and clicking on the appropriate course.

Most requests are processed within 2 business days for items already owned by the library, and up to 5 weeks for items that require ordering. However, requests submitted during the first two weeks of the quarter may take longer due to higher demand. You will receive an email confirmation when your request has been completed.

You can assign a loan period of 2-hours, 1-day, or 3-days for physical materials and place it at the Circulation/Reserve location of your choice. E-books with limited use licensing will be updated to a 2-hour loan. Physical media will have a loan period of 4-hours.

Yes. Materials may be placed on reserve at any UCR Library location regardless of subject area.

There is no limit to the number of titles you may place on Reserve. However, media streaming requests (films, CD tracks, and TV episodes) are capped at 20 requests per course.

We will place at least 1 copy of a title on reserve for student use. Additional copies may be placed on reserve based on class size and within UC Copyright and Fair Use.

We will provide sufficient copies of requested material for course reserves. Personal copies will not be accepted for course reserves unless it’s determined that there is a need for them (e.g., time constraints, out of print materials, etc.).

If you wish to donate copies to the library for course reserves, please contact us to determine if there is a need.

No. Items must be owned/licensed by UCR to be placed on Course Reserves. ILL requests of this nature will be canceled. Please add your item to the course reserves request form instead.

Items currently on loan that are needed for Course Reserves are typically recalled to UCR on an expedited timeline.

Add the item to your course reserves request form. Items not currently owned by the library will be reviewed for purchase decisions. Ebooks will be considered as part of the selection process, and the library will determine the appropriate format (print or electronic) to place on reserve. If we cannot obtain the title or enough copies, we may contact you about providing personal copies for reserve use.

Please allow up to 5 weeks for the purchasing and processing of requested materials before they are ready for course reserves.

Yes. Students will need to use their NetID/CAS authentication in order to access digital materials such as scans, ebooks, and streamed media.

If you need assistance with setting up your Canvas course to provide access to electronic reserve materials, please contact XCITE.

See UC Copyright and Fair Use.

No. Items purchased through Course Reserves are added to the library’s collections and are intended for use by students. Instructors in need of a copy for teaching purposes should contact their department or the publisher for assistance.

We can only purchase e-books that offer an institutional license (e.g., Amazon Kindle e-books cannot be purchased by the library due to licensing restrictions). If we already own an e-book, you should include it in your request so we can verify multi-user access.

Most library media material (DVD, Blu-ray, and CD) can be streamed for your class (depending on license). The media will be digitized and uploaded to YuJa (digital management platform) for you to add to your Canvas course. Instructions on how to access YuJa content from Canvas will be sent to you once the content is available.

Streamed videos will have English subtitles, whenever possible, unless another language is requested. If subtitles are unavailable, auto captioning (from YuJa) is available.

Video quality, unless from a library subscription service such as Kanopy or Swank, will vary depending on the source material and from the digitization process and won’t be HD (high definition) due to compression. These videos are meant to be viewed on smaller PC screens and not on large classroom monitors (e.g., 60+ in.).

Yes, any online video content that the library has a subscription to can be placed on course reserves. We will verify if a subscription needs to be extended or renewed.

No, media available through subscription streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or rental services such as Redbox cannot be placed on reserve due to licensing restrictions.

Yes, all requested media must be lawfully acquired or purchased and fall within UC Copyright and Fair Use (i.e., no pirated copies). Course reserve streamed media from YuJa may only be viewed by students and instructors in the course. Any physical media (DVD, Blu-ray, etc.) on reserves can be checked out by any UCR student, staff, or faculty for classroom use or private viewing.

No, library media is meant for private viewing or classroom viewing only. Screening videos in public requires public performance rights, even if there is no charge for the event. You will need to contact the publisher or vendor directly to arrange for a screening for your event.

Media viewing rooms are available for group viewing and can be reserved by UCR faculty, staff, and students through our online reservation system. Individual viewing stations are located on the 1st floor at the Rivera Library. Additionally, a portable media player is available for loan at the Rivera Circulation/Reserves Desk.

You are able to request scanning of the following materials within the guidelines set forth by the UC Copyright and Fair Use policy.

Materials that can be scanned:

• Articles
• Book excerpts
• Homework assignments
• Class notes

Materials that cannot be scanned:

• Entire books
• Course packets published by UCR Digital Print Services
• Items that are already available digitally

We will scan requested materials in accordance with the UC Copyright and Fair Use policy and then provide PDF access to you via YuJa (digital management platform). You will be responsible for linking or embedding materials from YuJa into your Canvas course so that your students can access them. We provide an instructional guide to all instructors who request scans on how to access YuJa from Canvas.

Yes, permalinks to library-owned electronic journal articles may be posted in Canvas or included in the library catalog's course reserve listing, depending on your preference.

If an e-journal is accessible to the library, a permalink will be sent instead. We do not scan physical journals if an e-journal is available.

You can place library owned video games on reserves. If you do not see a game listed in the library catalog, submit a reserve request and we will try to acquire a copy. Video games on reserve have a 4 hour loan period.

Our gaming rooms on the 2nd floor of the Rivera Library house the following consoles for student use:

• PS2
• PS3
• PS5
• Xbox 360
• Xbox X
• Nintendo Switch