Course Reserves

With digital reserves, a digitized copy of a print item--an entire book if needed--is available to one student at a time for a limited duration. Like physical reserves, the print items can belong either to the library or to the instructor.

How does Digital Reserves work?

• Our library software provides a tool called Controlled Digital Lending that allows us to manage electronic access to locally-digitized materials.   
• Students can find and borrow digital reserve materials by searching the course reserves in Primo just the same as they do for physical reserves. Instructors can share Primo permalinks to individual items or to the course's full reserve list.
• To ensure the service complies with copyright law, there are digital controls in place...: 

1. Downloading, saving, and printing from the file are restricted. If a student has an accommodation need, the library will work with ODS to provide equitable access.
2. No more than one person can view a digital reserves file at a time, unless the library possesses more than one copy of the print item. In other words, if we own one, we can loan one.
3. The digital loan is limited duration. We currently have them expiring after 30 minutes.

• ...and a few other conditions, too

1. While the digital reserve file is available, the library must retain possession of the physical book. That goes back to the "own one, loan one" concept.
2. Customized textbooks or course packs that students would typically purchase from the bookstore cannot be offered through Digital Reserves..

There is no perfect process for determining what materials to process for digital reserves (CDL), but these are the general guidelines the library uses when making a determination on whether to digitize a title for CDL or encourage purchase of an electronic license.

1. Patron Accessibility 
   1. In order to operate within copyright guidelines, digital reserves has multiple limitations, including: no printing of pages, and limited concurrent access (dependent on the number of copies library is in possession of)
   2. Library material scanning process includes OCR text recognition, but no advanced accessibility features (e.g., Alt text, headers for screen readers), and a lower resolution quality than native digital items. As such, texts that image-heavy with complex layouts are a good candidate for license purchasing (when available).
2. eBook licensing costs v. Library processing costs
   1. eBook licenses for trade books and paperbacks can often be purchased for less than the total time/human cost necessary for the library to hand scan, review, and apply OCR to. and may also include concurrent or unlimited viewing. However, the library will typically shy away from purchasing textbook licenses as they have much higher average costs and are frequently replaced with new/updated editions.
3. Amount of text used for course
   1. If you’re using only portions of a text or less than 50% overall, then the item may be a better candidate for CDL than purchasing. If you're using less than 15% of a text, then you may use the library's Scan & Deliver service instead.
4. Frequency of Use in Courses
   1. If you’re using the title in a course that is frequently taught and/or in multiple courses, and with considerations for accessibility and concurrent access, the title may be a better candidate for electronic purchasing.

Due to the variable lengths of print materials and demand, please allow a full week for processing.

First, a caveat: if you are using a trade book as a course text, Digital Reserves may not be the most appropriate option. Contact your librarian to discuss whether a licensed ebook of the title is available. Ebooks licenses typically allow for more simultaneous users, as well as downloading, printing and saving of pages.

To request Digital Reserves for an item owned by the library--or for a personally-owned item we already have on physical reserve--find the item in Primo. Sign into Primo, then click Request Options in the detailed area, as pictured.

To request Digital Reserves for a personally-owned item not already in our possession, complete either

• the Reserves & Booking form (online submission)
• the Digital Reserves form (paper submission)--copies are also available at the library 

and then deliver your item to the library with the form attached.  Remember that as long as the Digital Reserve item is available, the library must retain your personal copy. We will return it after the Removal Date you indicate on the form.

When our processing is complete, we will email you a Primo link to the item.