Q. What items can I place on reserve in the library?

SC4 Library Reserves 

Course reserves  

SC4 library maintains course reserves, in both hard copy and in electronic format to support instructional requirements of different courses. Best efforts to provide an electronic version of all reserve items will made, however, copyright law may not permit this in all cases. The library abides by the fair use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Act (Title 17, Section 107 US Code), as interpreted in best practices recommended by the American Library Association and as outlined by Copyright Clearance Center. To adhere to these guidelines, the following guidelines are in place with regards to what can and cannot be placed on reserve or eReserve. 

To request course reserves, submit the Library reserves course request form along with a detailed title list to library. The form is available on the Portal (https://portal.sc4.edu/academicsvcs/Pages/default.aspx), on the library home page (http://esearch.sc4.edu) , and on the library faculty resource page (http://esearch.sc4.edu/faculty). The library reserves course request form may be submitted electronically, via email to reserves@sc4.edu, interoffice mail, or in person.  

A new Library course reserves request form must be submitted per course, per semester. Title lists must accompany the course reserve form. Additional title may be added by request throughout the semester.    

What is the difference between reserves and eReserves? 

The term ‘reserves’ refers to physical items held in the library   

What can be placed on reserve or eReserve  

It is the responsibility of the faculty member to ensure that items requested for reserve are within permission of copyright law. Generally, documents that fall into one or more of the following categories do not require copyright permission:  

1. One chapter, short story, essay, or poem from a book  

2. Electronic books or journals subscribed to by SC4 library 

3. Link to streaming video subscribed to by SC4 library. 

3. One article from a journal issue.  

4. One chart, graph, diagram, drawing, cartoon or picture from a book or journal issue  

5. Works published before 1923  

6. Works published between 1923 and 1978 without a copyright notice  

7. Works in the public domain.   

8. Articles from electronic databases, electronic journal publishers, or electronic reference sources whose license provides electronic reserve access  

9. Original materials for which the instructor or student grants permission.  

What cannot be placed on eReserve but may be available for reserve 

The Libraries will NOT place materials on eReserves by altering medium of original item, but will continue to maintain hard-copy reserves for these items:  

1. Complete print books 

2. entire journal issues 

3. CDs, DVDs, and videotapes  

What cannot be placed on reserve or eReserve 

It is the Library’s understanding of copyright law that reserves cannot be maintained for:  

1. Materials borrowed from other libraries  

2. Non-circulating items, such as hard copy reference books  

3. Standardized tests or test booklets and answer sheets, worksheets or workbooks, solution manuals, and other works intended to be purchased by students (without permission of the copyright holder)  

4. Materials for which permission is denied (unless the use qualifies as “fair use”)  

Other reserves guidelines 

A copyright notice will be placed on all photocopies.  

An additional statement will be placed on all digital copies that further electronic transmission or distribution of the copyrighted work is prohibited.  

Course reserves will only be made available for the semester the class is taught. A new library reserves course request form must be completed each semester and submitted along with a detailed title list of items for reserve. 

Access to electronic course reserves is restricted to students and instructors for the course and will be password protected. The course password will be communicated to the requesting faculty member to distribute to students registered for their course and section. The password will also be held on file for the duration of the semester. The password will be valid for the current semester only.  This does not apply to library subscribed content. No password will be required if placing library subscribed content on reserve. 

The Library are not responsible for damage or loss of personal material placed on course reserves.  

The Library reserves the right to:  

1. Determine if materials will be placed on course reserves  

2. Make the final determination if copyright permission is necessary  

3. Limit the number of items on course reserves for a given course based on copyright constraints, royalty costs, etc. 

Frequently asked questions 

Q: What is “fair use?”  

A: Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows the public to make limited uses of copyrighted works  

without permission.  

Q: An instructor wants to add a book chapter to the library’s electronic course reserves. Is this a “fair use?”  

A: Yes. The chapter may be added if access to the electronic reserve system is limited to students enrolled in the course.  

Q: What happens if the copyright holder denies permission to use or digitize an excerpt from a copyrighted work for course reserves?  

A: Unless the Library can make a case for “fair use,” the excerpt must be removed from both hard copy and electronic reserves. An alternative approach would be to place the entire journal issue or complete book on hard copy reserves.  

Q: Can an instructor place several articles from the same journal issue or several chapters from the same book on reserve at the Library for students to access electronically? Access will be limited to only those students enrolled in the class.  

A: Generally, one article from a journal issue or one chapter from a book may be digitized for electronic reserves without obtaining permission from the copyright holder. If permission is denied for use of multiple articles or chapters, the instructor will need to seek alternative works.  

Q: Can an instructor place on reserve from semester to semester the same article in a professional journal?  

A: The repeated use of a copyrighted work, from semester-to-semester, is outside the scope of “fair use” and, generally, requires permission from the copyright holder.  

Q: I can give students the addresses of Web sites and have them download the texts I want to use in class, but I am not sure if these materials will always be there. Can I print out these texts and upload them into course reserves?  

A: No. You cannot photocopy, reproduce, or redistribute an entire work without permission. There are, however, exceptions to this. If the texts you want to use are in the public domain (such as government documents), library staff can scan and upload them into course reserves. Fall 2010