Course Reserves Policy

The Donald B. Watt Library offers both traditional course reserves and electronic course reserves (E-reserves). Materials placed on reserve are required readings for students in SIT courses done so at the initiative of faculty for non-commercial, educational usage.

Traditional reserves

Traditional course reserves are housed in two places: books are behind the circulation desk; articles are on the reserve shelf in the stacks area.

Types of materials that can be placed on reserve include:

  • Books that are part of SIT’s collection.
    Only books that are "Required Reading" should be put on Reserve as available space is limited. Keep in mind, too, that books put on reserve are taken out of general circulation.
  • If a book you wish to place on reserve is not part of SIT’s collection, given sufficient time it may be possible for the Library to acquire the book directly from the Bookstore or the Publisher. Please check with the library staff.
  • Personal copies of books.
    Personal copies of books can be placed on reserve if the library does not own the title or if you wish to have multiple copies on reserve. Make sure your name is in the book. It will be returned to you at the end of the semester.
  • Photocopies of journal articles or book chapters that are not part of SIT’s collection.
    To comply with the Copyright Law, such items can only be placed on reserve for one term without copyright permission. In accord with the guidelines below, copyright permission will be required for items being placed on reserve for more than one time.
    Up to one photocopy for every 10 students in a class can be placed on reserve. Multiple copies are and remain the property of the faculty member.  A notice of copyright must appear along with all reserve readings, please make sure to also provide a copy of the page with copyright notice.

E-Reserve or Electronic Reserve

Electronic Reserves (E-reserves) are housed on the library’s server. Accessible through SIT’s Online Catalog by using a system of passwords, these reserves are available only to SIT students and faculty. The intended purpose of E-reserve is to place on reserve journal articles or book chapters that are not part of SIT’s collection, the exception being when there is a need for information to be made available to students completing coursework offered online or at an off-campus location. 

  • To comply with the Copyright Law, items can only be placed on E-reserve for one term without copyright permission. In accord with the guidelines below, copyright permission will be required for items being placed on reserve for more than one time.
  • Electronic reserve files are removed from the E-reserves system at the end of each semester.
  • Complete books or items that exceed the reasonable limits of fair use cannot be placed on E-Reserves
  • Notice of copyright appears on the screen in the E-Reserves system. In addition, appropriate source citations or attributions will be included for all electronic files.

To Place an Item on Reserve

  1. Complete and submit the SIT Library Reserve Request Form. This Form can also be picked up at the library circulation desk. If the Library subscribes to the journal or newspaper, the student, as appropriate, will be referred to the library copy in paper, on microform or full-text online. For the convenience of the faculty, journal titles held by the Library may be searched through our Online Catalog or through the Journals List located on the Library’s homepage.
  2. For items being used a second time that are not part of SIT’s collection: the Library will process the copyright request if it is listed with the Copyright Clearance Center. This is done online and will be processed as quickly as possible. If the item is not listed with CCC, the Library will refer the request back to the faculty member’s department and assist by providing an address and a sample permission letter.
  3. Please allow a minimum of one week for reserve requests to be processed.