The Course Reserves Collection is a place of the library where instructors can place high demand items in a central location. Materials must be owned by the Livingston Lord Library, Tri-College Libraries, or the instructor. Items obtained through Interlibrary Loan cannot be placed on reserve. The library does expect that all items placed on reserve are in compliance with the copyright law (see Notice of Copyright below). Limited loan periods ensure that the students enrolled in a particular course have easy access to whatever information resource their professor wants them to use. The library's Course Reserves Collection is located behind the Main Circulation Desk.
Complete the Course Reserves Request form for each course and bring it along with the items to the Circulation Desk or through campus mail (Course Reserves, Livingston Lord Library). Examples of student coursework must have the signed Permission to Use Student Work form. You will need Adobe software to complete the online forms, please access the MSUM's IT Department download and installation instructions. These forms can also be obtained at the desk. Reserve requests will be processed in the order they are received. Please allow 5 business days for processing. Note that any faculty owned items will have a Reserve call number, barcode, and loan period label affixed to it. Once processing is finished, a copy of the form with be returned with the assigned Reserve call numbers. For questions, contact Erin Balerud at 218-477-2354 or reserves@mnstate.edu.
At the end of each semester or as indicated on the Course Reserves Request form, items are removed from the Course Reserves Collection. Personal copies will be returned through campus mail and library owned items returned to the stacks. If faculty chose to remove their items off Course Reserves before the semester, please complete the Reserve To Be Removed form, bring it to the Circulation Desk, and pick up the items. Copies of the form can also be found at the desk.
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. One of the specified conditions is that photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than in private study, scholarship, or research." If a user makes a request for or later uses a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of fair use, then that user may be liable for copyright infringement.
Compliance with copyright law is the responsibility of the instructor. To determine fair use, please see the Four Factor Test. For online courses, you may also consult the TEACH Act Checklist.
For more information, see our Library Copyright Center.