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Course Reserves

Course Reserves is a temporary collection of books, journal articles, CDs, DVDs, sample examinations and other print and electronic materials set aside at a professor's request for the non-commercial and educational use by students. Reserved materials are intended to supplement, not replace, course texts purchased by students.

Information for Students

Print & Media Reserves

  • A valid WPUNJ student ID card is required to borrow Reserve materials.
  • From the Library homepage, click on the Course Reserves tab, then the Print Reserves button. Search by title, course number or instructor.
  • One item may be checked out at a time.
  • Reserve items can be used in the Library for 6 hours.
  • The fine for overdue reserve material is $5.00 per hour.

Electronic Reserves
eBooks, Book chapters, and articles

  • From the Library homepage, click on the Course Reserves tab, then the Electronic Reserves button. Browse for your course, instructor, or subject.
  • Your instructor will share the required passwords needed to access these materials.
  • Contact Lending Services (973-720-3180) or Reference (973-720-2116) if you have any questions.

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Information for Faculty

Instructors may place a variety of materials on Reserve including: books, journal articles, audiovisual materials, course syllabus, lecture notes, sample exams, and links to the Internet. Instructors may provide personal copies of books, media, and/or articles or request that specific items be purchased. Please refer to the Fair Use guidelines for limitations and conditions concerning the scope and range of materials placed on Reserve.

Course Reserves Services for Faculty pamphlet (PDF file).

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Submitting Materials for Reserve: Print, Media, Electronic

Course Reserves staff will uphold the principles of Fair Use when placing materials on Reserve

  • Materials will be processed for Reserve only at the request of an instructor for the non-commercial, educational use of students.
  • Additional processing time may be required if copyright permission is needed.
  • The Library will seek permission and pay royalties for Reserve submissions exceeding the Fair Use guidelines.
  • Library staff will work with faculty to determine alternatives if costs are prohibitive or when copyright permission is denied.

Complete the online Reserve Submission form or the printable Reserve Submission form and provide materials for Reserve to Lending Services

  • Each submission must include a bibliographic citation and/or source attribution.
  • Reserve staff will place a recall if the Cheng Library owns the material you need for Reserve but it is checked out.
  • The following materials may not be placed on Reserve: books or media obtained via Interlibrary Loan, unlawfully made copies, course packs, workbooks, or complete volumes or issues of periodicals.

Materials will be processed on a first come, first served basis

  • Reserve staff will need three days to process materials, or longer if materials are received after the deadline, or require copyright permission.
  • A copyright notice will appear on the first page of each reading.
  • All Reserve materials are processed with barcodes, spine labels, and security devices.
  • Course Reserves are included in the Library’s online catalog and are searchable by course number, instructor, or department.
  • Print and media materials are available for in-Library use only.
  • Reserve staff will carefully handle all personal items submitted for Reserve. These items will require processing which may impact the condition of the original. We are not liable for the loss or damage to media materials while on Reserve.
  • All Reserve materials will be returned to the shelves or via campus mail to the instructor at the end of the semester, unless you notify Course Reserves staff otherwise.

Guidelines for submitting books and print materials:

  • To ensure that the correct title and edition are placed on Reserve, provide all materials, including Library owned books and personal copies, to Reserve staff.
  • If the Library’s copy is checked out, Reserve staff will immediately recall it and process it upon return to the Library.

Guidelines for submitting materials for scanning:

  • Copies should be on 8.5x11 inch paper, and as clean, straight, and legible as possible.
  • Electronic Reserve materials will be accessible only to students enrolled in the class.
  • Off campus access to Electronic Reserve will require logging in with WPU username/password.
  • Electronic Reserve readings will only be available during the current semester.

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Reserve Submission Form

Fill out the online Reserve Submission form or the printable Reserve Submission form. Please provide course and instructor contact information and complete bibliographic information for each item on Reserve. Complete the Reserve web form or the and provide all materials to Lending Services.

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Deadlines

To guarantee availability, please submit your materials according to these deadlines:

  • Fall Semester: June 1st
  • Winter Session: November 20th
  • Spring Semester: December 1st
  • Summer Session: April 1st

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Fair Use & Copyright

US Copyright Law governs the use of copyrighted material, and therefore, has implications on the type and the amount of material that may be kept on Reserve. The Library upholds the US Copyright laws and enjoys the exceptions allowed according to Fair Use guidelines.

The Library will seek permission and pay royalties for those Reserve submissions exceeding Fair Use guidelines. Library staff will work with faculty to determine alternatives when costs become prohibitive or when copyright permission is denied.

Fair Use

As stated in Section 107 of the US Copyright Act, educational, not-for-profit institutions are afforded special exemptions from copyright law. These exemptions, known as the Fair Use guidelines, pose questions for determining whether making a copy will be fair depending upon how the copied material will be used. Fair Use involves careful consideration of four factors and how they balance on a case-by-case basis:

Factor 1: What is the purpose of the use?
Materials should be placed on Reserve to support specific educational programs, courses, and outcomes at the request of an instructor.  Access to these materials should be limited to the students enrolled in the course.

Factor 2: What is the nature of work to be copied?
The work should be relevant to the educational objectives of the course.  Using works that are non-fiction or informational weigh more favorably as fair, than using works that are highly creative, such as, music, drama, art, images, fiction, and poetry.

Factor 3: What is the amount to be copied in proportion to the original?
The amount copied should be directly tailored and related to the educational objectives of the course.  Reserve materials should be limited to excerpts from longer works, such as a book chapter, a journal article, a poem. The portion copied should not be central or significant to the work as a whole. Access to Reserve materials is limited to students enrolled in the course.

Factor 4: What is the market effect of copying?
All Reserve materials will include a copyright notice and a complete citation to the original work. Access to Reserve materials is limited to students enrolled in the class. A small portion of the original work is being used. Materials that are available for students to purchase (course packs, workbooks) will not be placed on Reserve.

Reserve staff will review submissions and conduct a Fair Use analysis before processing materials for Reserve.

Copyright

Library staff will assist faculty in evaluating how copyright affects Reserve materials before including them in our collection. A copyright notice will appear on the first page of photocopied reserve material to indicate that materials may be covered by copyright law. Full citations and attributions to original sources will be included.

The Library will seek permission and pay royalties for those Reserve submissions exceeding Fair Use guidelines. Library staff will work with faculty to determine alternatives when costs become prohibitive or when copyright permission is denied.

For additional information visit William Paterson's copyright page: Copyright @ WPUNJ.

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Contact Information

For questions about Print & Electronic Reserves, contact Lending Services by phone 973-720-3183 or 973-720-3180, or by email prudenj@wpunj.edu.

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