Course Reserves provides a place to house materials assigned to students enrolled in classes. Materials may be in print, electronic, and multimedia formats in compliance with the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Course Reserves materials may be checked out at the Circulation Desk in both the Green Library (University Park) and Biscayne Bay Library.
Formats & Services
Print Reserves -- available for books and other materials that are checked out to students. Faculty members select either a 2 hour, 24 hour, or 3 day circulation period. Personal and library-owned materials may be placed on Print Reserves. Materials from non-circulating collections may not be placed on Print Reserves.
Electronic Reserves -- photocopies of articles in periodicals and chapters in books are scanned and made available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, as a PDF document. Some restrictions may apply in order to comply with the Copyright Law.
Multimedia -- materials such as music CD's, DVD's, videotapes, or other audio-visual formats. Multimedia reserves at University Park are located in the Sound & Images Department, 5th Floor, and at the Biscayne Bay Library Circulation Desk. Loan periods vary. Some restrictions may apply in order to comply with the Copyright Law.
Links to Online Course Syllabus -- links to the course's online syllabus are provided through the Course Reserves database.
Other Services in compliance with the Copyright Law may be restricted.
Fines
Books and Audio-Visual Materials -- $0.25 per hour; $5 after 20 hours
Laptops and Keys to Group Study Rooms -- $30 per hour; $2,200 after 24 hours
Bills for replacement or repair costs will be applied and may exceed the above figures.
Searching the Course Reserves Database
Search for reserve materials in the Course Reserves database by Instructor, Course number, and, in some cases, by the author, or title of the work. Print and multimedia materials will display a call number. Electronic documents will display a link to a PDF copy -- "ONLINE COPY".
Placing Materials on Course Reserves
To place a material on Reserves, click here for the Course Reserves Request Form.
Ineligible Materials
Bound volumes of library-owned periodicals
Most Special Collections and Reference materials
Materials owned by another library
Materials, reproductions or formats which are not in compliance with the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17 of the U.S. Code)
Library-owned Materials
Depending upon the time of the semester, please allow approximately two weeks processing for Library-owned materials. To expedite processing time, instructors may retrieve the materials from the stacks. If an item is checked out, it will be recalled immediately. Multiple instructors teaching the same course may request the same item be placed on reserve for similiar courses. The item will be indexed under the names and courses of all instructors. To ensure equitable access for a higher number of students, the loan period will be limited to 2 hours.
Books not owned by the Library
Books not owned by the FIU Libraries will be ordered based upon the availabity of funds. Please allow a minimum of six (6) weeks for purchasing and processing.
Personal Items
Personal materials will be processed and circulated according to standard reserve procedures, including labeling to facilitate check out, and sensitization to deter theft. If the library owns the item, the library's copy will be placed on reserve and the instructor's copy returned unless specifically requested otherwise. While efforts will be made to safeguard materials, the library is not responsible for any damage to or theft of personal items placed on Course Reserve.
Processing Time
To ensure that materials will be available when needed, requests should be submitted approximately 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester. Most materials can be placed on Reserve within three (3) business days, depending upon the time of the semester. Additional processing time may be necessary for reasons including: requests on or after the first day of class, incomplete citations, materials that currently unavailable, requests unaccompanied by the materials, requests requiring copyright permission, and materials that are not owned by the library.
Copyright Compliance
Materials placed on Reserve are subject to compliance with the Copyright Law of the United States (Title17, US Code). Copyright Law & Library Compliance provides further information concerning copyright compliance and Course Reserves. Materials needed for the next semester must be resubmitted for copyright compliance. Permission or refusal may be granted at any time by the copyright's owner.
Removing Materials
Materials are removed at the end of each semester, or earlier if the instructor requests. Instructors may also request removal of items from Course Reserves at anytime during the semester. To comply with the Copyright Law, at the end of each semester to comply all materials must be removed, or renewed, for the following semester. An electronic reminder will be sent.