Reserves FAQ for Faculty

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the Reserve Desk (760) 750-8363, reserve@csusm.edu

• What is the Reserve Collection?
• Faculty Reserves Guidelines
• How do I place items on reserve?
• How long can students check out reserve items?
• How long will it take for reserve items to be available to students?
• How many pages of a book or journal can be added to electronic reserves?
• How many items can be placed on reserve?
• Can books from the Kellogg Library be placed on reserve?
• Can books from other libraries be placed on reserve?
• Will the library acquire books for courses?
• How do I get a password for my electronic reserves course?
• How long are items left on reserve?
• Can I place my materials on both electronic reserves and regular reserve?
• Do I need to fill out the Bibliographic Worksheet on the back of the Faculty Reserve Form?
• I need to change the title of some of the documents on my electronic reserves course page.  Is that possible?
• I found a typo on my syllabus.  Can you replace the old one with this new one?
• Do you have a copy of the textbook for my class on reserve?

What is the Reserve Collection?

Electronic reserves

Are materials that have been placed on the Web for student use. Access to these materials is 24 hours a day and restricted to current Cal State San Marcos registered class students and may not be shared with others.

Traditional reserve materials

Are controlled course readings for ready access by Cal State San Marcos students. These traditional materials are in high demand by a large number of students, therefore materials lend for a limited period of time usually 2 hours, 1 day or 3 day loan periods. Traditional Reserve materials are located at the third floor check out desk. Audio/Visual reserve material is located at the second floor check out desk.

To check-out traditional reserve materials the student must have a current Cal State San Marcos identification card with library barcode. A maximum of 2 traditional items per coarse may be checked out to a student at one time. Late fees begin to accumulate immediately if materials are not returned at the specified time or date.

Media Reserves

Any media format can be placed on reserve in the Media Library for time periods indicated by faculty. Playback equipment is available in the Media Library for media items placed on reserve.

How do I place items on reserve?

For electronic reserve: Email document files to reserve@csusm.edu along with the course and item bibliographic information.

For traditional reserves: Print out the Faculty Reserves Material Form (PDF) and bring it into the library with your materials.  It's that easy!

For media reserves: Fill out the web based Faculty Media Reserves Form to place items on reserve in the media library.

How long can students check out reserve items?

Professors choose the check out period.  Choices are: 2 hours, 1 day, 3 days, or 1 week.

How long will it take for reserve items to be available to students?

Reserve materials are added on a first come first served basis.  During the first two weeks of each semester it may take several days before the material is ready, but once the beginning rush is over items are usually placed on reserve by the next business day.

How many pages of a book or journal can be added to electronic reserves?

All four factors must be considered when following the Fair Use Doctrine (the purpose of the use, the nature of the work, the amount used, and the effect of the use on the potential market) so this is always a difficult question to answer.  We are generally safe using one or two chapters / articles of a book or journal.  Please look over your materials and carefully consider what would benefit your students.

How many items can be placed on reserve?

Traditional reserve items are not limited.  Up to 15 copyrighted articles / chapters per course per semester may be placed on electronic reserves.  There is no limit to the number of non copyrighted items (exams, lecture notes, solutions, syllabus, etc.) 

Can books from the Kellogg Library be placed on reserve?

Yes.  Simply email reserve@csusm.edu with the titles, call numbers, circulation time (2 hours, 1 day, 3 days, or 1 week,) and course information.

Can books from other libraries be placed on reserve?

No.  Only books owned by CSUSM or professor's personal copies may be placed on reserve.

Will the library acquire books for courses?

The library's acquisitions department makes all the decisions about book purchases for the library.  Please contact Hua Yi at hyi@csusm.edu.

How do I get a password for my electronic reserves course?

Your campus username and password will provide access to your reserve materials.

How long are items left on reserve?

As long as they are needed.  At the end of each semester professors are notified by email when materials will be removed.  Reply back if course materials need to be carried over to the next semester.

Can I place my materials on both electronic reserves and regular reserve?

No.  You must decide on which method would benefit your students most.

Do I need to fill out the Bibliographic Worksheet on the back of the Faculty Reserve Form?

Only if the bibliographic information is not provided in another way.  Bibliographic info can be:  written on the photocopy of the article / chapter, a photocopy of the book's title page and verso, or an email with the information.

I need to change the title of some of the documents on my electronic reserves course page.  Is that possible?

Yes, email the changes to reserve@csusm.edu

I found a typo on my syllabus.  Can you replace the old one with this new one?

Yes!  Once a course is created and the documents have been added changes are usually very easy to make.

Do you have a copy of the textbook for my class on reserve?

The library does not purchase textbooks.  The professor would have to put a personal copy of the textbook on reserve.