Course Reserves Information for Faculty
The following information is for instructors wishing to place materials on course reserve at the Divinity Library. We are able to request that materials from other Yale Libraries be placed on course reserve, but we cannot guarantee that those items will be physically available at the Divinity Library.
Placing books and other materials on reserve encourages greater circulation among students, through shorter loan periods, special fine rates, and closed shelving. When the semester begins you will be able to review your list online via Orbis.
Please be aware that we do not have sufficient staff to photocopy articles. We have faculty copy cards available for you or your TA to use when making copies. Due to copyright restrictions we can accept only two copies of articles that you want on reserve.
General Information
The system functions most effectively when your required readings are in place before classes start. Please make every effort to hand in your lists on time so that the materials are identified and processed for your first class meeting.
This is especially important if you anticipate needing new books that you suspect the library does not own. Book requests can be made through the Purchase New Book for Reserve Form.
To summit your list please use the Reserve Request Form (Regular).
After a semester begins, if necessary, PRIORITY requests can be submitted by using the Priority Reserve Request Form. Priority Reserve Request allows you to request up to 5 Divinity titles to be processed within three working days (M-F).
We will also accept email lists, attachments, and hard copy list (submitted at the library's circulation desk.)
RESERVE LOAN PERIODS OFFERED - PLEASE INDICATE LOAN PERIOD ON YOUR COURSE LIST. THE DEFAULT WILL BE 2-HOUR IF MORE THAN ONE COURSE IS USING THE SAME BOOK.
2-HOUR reserve is designed for mandatory readings assigned for a whole class. The books must stay in the library all day and can only be charged out overnight. Photocopies and personal copies of books also fall in this category.
24-HOUR reserve is intended for books not needing the restrictions of a 2-hour reserve.
3-DAY reserve is intended for books not needing the restrictions of a 2-hour or 24-hour reserve. It is recommended for books used to prepare papers or presentations.
7-DAY reserve is intended for titles assigned to one student to prepare for a paper or presentation.
Applicable Reserve Materials
- NEW BOOKS: If the library does not own a book that you wish to place on reserve, please submit a request through the Purchase New Book for Reserve Form.
- PHOTOCOPIED ARTICLES: Processing time will be greatly reduced if two copies of an article are provided: one personal copy and one copy for "fair use" (see Copyright Information below.)
- PERSONAL COPIES: Providing personal copies of a book before classes start will allow sufficient time for processing. When the personal material does not accompany the list please indicate "to be supplied" on the request form.
- SOFTWARE: Software may be placed on reserve; arrangements should be made in advance of assignment dates.
- VIDEO/AUDIO TAPES: Tapes used in conjunction with course work may be placed on reserve. Please make arrangements in advance of assignment dates and confirm that the DVD players are compatible with the tapes.
Copyright Information
YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY STATEMENT ON RESERVE COPIES
Librarians and library staff may not make multiple copies for reserve reading unless the permission of the copyright holder has been obtained, nor may they accept multiple copies from a faculty member. Section 107-108 guidelines, excerpted below, apply only to the making of single copies. Should multiple copies be made or accepted, the library must have written verification that the copyright holder has given permission. It is the responsibility of the requesting faculty member to gain permission from the copyright holder for making/use of multiple copies. Each copy must bear "notice of copyright." Copies may not be re-used for another term without permission, unless a "blanket permission" (covering all contingencies) was granted originally. Libraries may accept one copy from a faculty member, the copy will remain the property of the faculty member and will be so marked. The faculty member's copy will be returned at the end of the semester.
The background for this policy appears in Subsection 108g of the Copyright Law, which says:
The rights of reproduction and distribution...extend to the isolated and unrelated reproduction or distribution of a single copy...of the same material on separate occasions, but do not extend to cases where the library or archive:
- is aware of has substantial reason to believe that it is engaging in the related or concerted reproduction of multiple copies the same material, whether made on occasion or over a period of time and whether intended for aggregate use by one or more individual members of a group; or
- engages in the systematic reproduction or distribution of single or multiple copies...of material.
This policy applies to both in-print and out-of-print materials, as well as unpublished items.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RESERVES:
- The Divinity Library will accept a personal copy of material if it is:
- only one copy of a journal article that is a personal copy of the Faculty and an additional copy for fair use.
- only one copy of a "course packet" for Closed Reserve.
- The Divinity Library does not accept photocopied excerpts of published books owned in any of the Yale libraries -- the book will be placed on reserve instead.
- The Divinity Library cannot accept photocopies of entire books unless they are in the public domain or the faculty member has obtained permission to copy; this applies to out-of-print materials as well as in-print material.
- The Divinity Library will return photocopies or "course packets" submitted for Closed Reserve when they do not comply with restrictions outlined in the Statement.
