The Course Reserves service is available to instructors wishing to provide access to assigned readings or viewings. Materials acquired through GIL Express or Interlibrary Loan cannot be placed on reserve.
Reserve requests are processed in the order they are received. Complete citations and early submission of requests help expedite processing.
Electronic & Print Reserves Details
Licensed Content
The library has licenses for a large amount of content. Before submitting an electronic reserves request, please check to see if your reading is already available through a library-licensed resource. The easiest way to check is to search the article title or book title through the Discovery search on the library’s homepage.
If you find a licensed copy of your reading, please consult the Linking to Articles and Films guide for assistance in creating an authenticated link to use in your syllabus or course management site. An authenticated link directs students to a login page so they can access the licensed copy and avoid a paywall. Please contact your librarian for assistance finding or linking to licensed readings.
If you don’t find a licensed copy of the book title you want to use, you can search Faculty Select to see if it is available to purchase or if there is a similar title you may want to consider as an alternative. Faculty Select promotes textbook affordability by helping instructors locate online course materials that their students can use for free. The database includes Open Educational Resources (OER) and DRM-free ebooks licensed for unlimited users that instructors can request the library purchase. Learn more about this resource from our Faculty Select guide.
Fair Use
If the content for your course is not already licensed, you may be able to provide a digitized copy for your students by relying on fair use. Instructors are responsible for evaluating whether using a copyrighted work for reserves qualifies as fair use. Course Reserves staff will scan qualified content on behalf of the instructor.
To evaluate whether the material you want to digitize qualifies as fair use, refer to the Fair Use Analysis Basics and the Board of Regents Fair Use Exception, then complete the Fair Use Checklist. Save a copy of the completed checklist for your records.
Request Permission
If you are using a large portion of a work and a license is readily available, or you are using the heart of the work, your use is probably not fair. You can purchase permission from the Copyright Clearance Center and submit it with your request. Alternatively, you can place a copy of the work on print reserve. Library staff is available to help you with this process.
Place Items on Reserve
Instructors need to renew electronic reserves each semester. The library will email the course instructor when items are available for student use.
Submit a request for Electronic Course Reserves
Questions? Email [email protected] for assistance.
Books and media owned by Georgia State University Library or lawfully acquired personal copies may be placed on reserve per semester for a limited loan period.
- Limited to 40 items per instructor.
- Items are removed and re-shelved or returned to the instructor at the end of the semester.
- Unclaimed personal copies become the property of the library and may be discarded.
While we will make every effort to ensure the safety of personally owned materials placed on reserve, the University Library cannot assume responsibility for or replace lost, stolen or damaged material.
| Location | Contact |
|---|---|
| Alpharetta | Course Reserves Form – Alpharetta (doc) |
| Atlanta | Course Reserves Form – Atlanta (doc) |
| Clarkston | Contact Chenta Davis |
| Decatur | Course Reserves Form — Decatur (doc) |
| Dunwoody | Contact Rachel Donahue |
| Newton | Contact Admira Milinkovic |