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Faculty QuickStart Guide

Directions for some of the most common library-related tasks

For Faculty: What are Course Reserves?

Faculty can place items on Reserve* in the library to make them available to students any time the library is open. The Library makes an effort to ensure that their use is secure and equitable. Personal items can be accepted for Reserve or you may use items Ely Library already owns.

Reserve items should NOT be used as a substitute for your students purchasing individual textbooks for your course.

Reserve items used by students never leave the library without an arrangement between the faculty member and the Head of Access Services.  Professors may take any Reserve items out for use in their own classes at any time.

The library provides areas where DVD, and CD items may be used.  These areas are first-come, first-served.  All wired PCs are equipped to play DVDs and CDs.

*The library is subject to copyright law and is therefore unable to keep items on reserve longer than one semester. A course reserve request must be made every semester for every item on reserve.

Important Note

The course reserve program is intended for use on materials that the library already owns or personal copies of materials provided by faculty or departments. Requests to purchase materials should go through your department liaison.

Check out our catalog to see if we own a title

For Faculty: How do I use Course Reserves?

All professors wishing to place items on Reserve should fill out the following form and submit it.  If you have questions or wish to follow up on a request, please email asearle@westfield.ma.edu

If you wish to put a personal item on reserve, please click here to fill out a printable form. 

Some Copyright Suggestions

In order to adhere to Federal Copyright Law, including Fair Use provisions as defined in Title 17 (sections 107 & 108), please attempt to limit your Reserves to the following:

  • One personal copy of a book, A/V item, or journal issue the Library does not own (one semester use)
  •  Up to 3 photocopies of one article per journal issue of a title the Library does not own (one semester use)
  • One photocopy of one chapter from any book (one semester use)
  • One photocopy of less than 10% of any book (one semester use)
  • One photocopy of a poem, essay, or short story (one semester use)
  • One photocopy of one illustration, graph, chart per book/journal issue (one semester use)
  • Government publications
  • Faculty-generated tests, exams, or answer keys
  • Your lecture notes