Course Reserves

You can search for course reserve items using OneSearch:

• Go to the Library home page

• Enter the title of the item in the OneSearch search bar

• Select "Course Reserves" from the “Everything” dropdown menu

• Click "Search"

You can also browse the Course Reserve List to see materials available for your classes.

To check out physical course reserve materials, you must present:

• Your CSUMB Otter ID card, or

• A library-issued card with photo ID

Many assigned course readings are available electronically. Electronic articles and readings selected by your instructor can be accessed directly through Canvas.

The CSUMB Library Course Reserve Collection includes required and recommended course materials selected by instructors each semester. Course reserves support shared access to high-demand resources and help ensure students have timely access to essential materials.

Required course materials receive priority processing. Articles and other readings available electronically should be linked directly from the course Canvas site whenever possible.

When to Submit Course Reserve Materials

To ensure course reserve materials are processed and available at the start of the semester, instructors are encouraged to submit all requests at least four weeks before the first day of instruction.

What Can be Placed on Course Reserve

Books and Personal Copies

• Library-owned books and instructor-owned personal copies may be placed on reserve
• A maximum of four copies of the same title may be accepted
• Personal copies must include a note with any special handling instructions
• The Library does not place on reserve materials created by retail or mail-order vendors, course readers or items borrowed from other libraries

Articles

Articles from newspapers, periodicals and other non-book sources, as well as unpublished instructor-authored works, should follow Library guidance for electronic access. Refer to the Electronic Course Readings guide for detailed information.

Unpublished Personal Materials

Unpublished instructor-created materials may be placed on reserve.

• Loose-leaf materials may be added to electronic reserves
• Bound materials may be placed on physical course reserve

Media

Media items may be placed on reserve if they are:

• Owned by the CSUMB Library
• In original manufacturer packaging

Materials produced by retail or mail-order vendors, or borrowed from other libraries, are not accepted.

Note: The Library is not responsible for the condition of personal materials when returned and does not bill borrowers for lost or damaged personal copies.

Copyright Notice

Materials placed on physical or electronic course reserve may be protected under U.S. copyright law. Use of Course Reserve Services indicates agreement by instructors and students to comply with all applicable copyright regulations.

Loan Periods for Course Reserve Materials

Standard loan periods for course reserve items include:

• Two-hour loan
• One-day loan
• Three-day loan

Loan periods are assigned based on course needs and item type.

How to Submit a Course Reserve Request

Library-Owned Materials or Purchase Requests

Requests for Library-owned books or to request a Library purchase should be submitted using the online Course Reserve Request Form.

Personal Copies

Personal or department-owned materials may be submitted:

• In person
• By mail using the Course Reserve Item Form

Mailing Address

Library Course Reserves
CSUMB Library, Building 508
100 Campus Center
Seaside, CA 93955

Personal materials are labeled for circulation using spine labels, tape and adhesive security tags. Instructors are encouraged to consider this carefully, as items may experience wear, loss or damage.

Removing Materials from Course Reserve

Course reserve materials may be removed at any time. The reserve duration is determined by the instructor at the time of submission.

End-of-Term Handling

• One semester or one academic year — Library-owned items are returned to the general collection; personal copies are returned via campus mail to the instructor’s department or office
• Permanent or until further notice — The Library reserves the right to remove items that have not circulated within the past two years

To retrieve personal materials left on reserve from a previous semester, contact Course Reserve staff or visit the Circulation Desk.

Required and supplemental readings are a core component of student learning across many courses. The Library supports faculty in providing access to these materials through Course Reserves, with Canvas serving as the primary platform for electronic course readings. Housing readings within Canvas allows students to locate materials easily within the context of their coursework while supporting copyright compliance.

Journal Articles

The Library provides access to hundreds of millions of full-text journal articles through subscription databases and publisher electronic journal collections. Faculty are strongly encouraged to select required or supplemental readings from these collections whenever possible.

Linking directly to the full text of articles in Library databases, rather than uploading downloaded copies, eliminates copyright restrictions and additional costs associated with reproduction.

Creating Durable Links to Articles

Most Library databases support the creation of durable (persistent) links to individual articles.

• Search for the article in the appropriate database
• Open the full record for the article
• Copy the URL provided by the publisher or database
• Add the Library’s proxy prefix so off-campus access is enabled.

A proxy-prefixed link ensures that students can access content seamlessly from off campus.

Proxy Prefix

https://csumb.idm.oclc.org/login?url=

Example of a Complete Durable Link

When the proxy prefix is added to a publisher’s URL, the final durable link will look like this:

https://csumb.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/815282959?accountid=10355

Finding Related Articles

For previously used readings or topic exploration, Google Scholar can help identify similar or newer articles.

• Enter the article title in Google Scholar
• Review the “Related Articles” and “Cited by” links

When reviewing results, look for “Find text @ CSUMB” links or open-access versions available through publishers or repositories.

Ebooks

Faculty are encouraged to link to the Library’s growing collection of web-accessible ebooks, which supports broad access while avoiding copyright fees and restrictions.

Finding Ebooks

• Search OneSearch using relevant keywords
• For assistance identifying appropriate ebook content, contact Ask a Librarian or the assigned librarian subject selector.

Linking to Ebooks

To create a durable link:

• Open the ebook’s full record in OneSearch.
• Select “Permalink.”
• Copy and paste the permalink into the Canvas course.

Print Book Chapters and Copyright Compliance

Scanning and uploading chapters or sections of books is governed by U.S. copyright law and may involve significant permission costs, when permissions are available at all.

• The Library does not subsidize copyright fees for scanned book chapters
• For books owned by the CSUMB Library, the complete book may be placed on regular Course Reserve
• For books not owned by the Library, faculty may request that the Library consider purchasing the title for Course Reserve or may place a personal copy on reserve

This approach ensures access while remaining compliant with copyright regulations.

The CSUMB Library offers two forms to support faculty in making course materials available through Course Reserves.

Online Course Reserve Request Form

The online Course Reserve Request Form is used by Cal State Monterey Bay faculty and instructors to request that Library-owned materials be placed on course reserve.

This form may also be used to recommend titles for Library purchase in support of a course. Purchase requests are reviewed by the appropriate librarian subject selector, who determines whether the Library will acquire the item.

• Online Course Reserve Request Form

Course Reserve Item Form (Personal Copies)

The Course Reserve Item Form is a printable form used by faculty and instructors who wish to loan personal copies of required course materials to the Library for placement on course reserve.

• Downloadable Course Reserve Item Form