Reserve Policies

Fall 2021 Service Changes

The UConn Library prioritizes electronic access to materials for greater equity and increased usage.

Whenever feasible, the Library will purchase electronic versions of physical materials (such as books and DVDs) that instructors have assigned to courses or requested be put on Course Reserve for Fall 2021. Materials unavailable in electronic format can be placed on traditional reserve at all of our campus locations.

Guidance for Instructors

Please check the library catalog before submitting a purchase or reserve request. The Library offers instant access to hundreds of thousands of ebooks and streaming videos.
Please fill out this form or contact lib.acquisitions@uconn.edu with a list of course materials desired in an e-format. Obtaining electronic materials can take several weeks—please plan accordingly and consult our guide for details.
For physical items in the Library’s collections: please fill out this form to place the item on reserve for your course. If an electronic version of an item in the Library’s collections is also available, we will send you a persistent link to the e-version rather than placing the physical item on reserve.

Requests will be processed in the order received. Reserve policies apply.

Purchases will be made in accordance with the Library’s Collection Development Policies.

We can also help you identify alternative course materials and create persistent links for electronic resources. Please contact your subject specialist for assistance.

Copyright Guidelines

The Library provides copyright information relevant to instructors teaching classes. Instructors are responsible for compliance with copyright law and with license agreements for Library-licensed electronic resources.

Required Identification

A University ID or a UConn Library Borrower ID is required to borrow Reserve materials.

Location of Reserve Materials

Physical reserves for the Storrs campus, including the materials for music classes, are kept on the Plaza Level of the Homer Babbidge Library. School of Pharmacy course materials are kept at the Pharmacy Library. Regional Campus course materials are located at the regional campus’ library. Contact regional campus staff for details.

Loan Periods

Reserve materials circulate for one of the following loan periods:

3 hours, books not to leave the Library
3 hours, DVD regional campuses
4 hours, DVD Storrs Campus
1 day
3 days
7 days

Reserve Requests

Requests for books and DVDs are submitted by instructors electronically. Reserve staff make every attempt to process requests in a timely manner. Requests are processed in the order received. Requests submitted after the start of term, or incomplete or incorrect information in requests, can cause delays in making Reserve materials available to students.

Ordering New Materials

Instructors are encouraged to draw course materials from the Library’s collections and from Open Educational Resources.

The Library routinely purchases ebooks and streaming videos for the collections. Please fill out this form to request a purchase. Purchases are made in accordance with the Library’s Collection Development Policies. While the Library does not purchase textbooks or workbooks for specific courses, instructors may supply such materials to the course reserve program as personal copies.

Placing Personal Items on Reserve

Personal copies of books, DVDs, and CDs are placed on Reserve at the owner’s risk. Although we make every effort to safeguard materials, the Library is not responsible for damaged or lost personal items.
We will attach book pockets and barcodes to your personal items.
Please drop off your personal copies at the iDesk on the Plaza level of the Homer Babbidge Library or at the Circulation Desk of your Regional Campus Library.
Please contact Reserve Services staff if you have other types of personally owned items you wish to put on Reserve to see if the request can be accommodated.