Library to Implement Electronic Reserves

The UHD Library has purchased and implemented “ERes” an electronic reserves software system from the electronic reserves market leader Docutek.  As always, students will be able to search for hard-copy reserve materials located at the Circulation desk in the library. In addition, using ERes, the Library can now offer greater functionality by offering reserve materials such as journal articles, book chapters, lectures notes, and student papers in electronic form.  Faculty will now be able to move their paper reserves online where they’ll be much more accessible to students. The following is a brief overview of some of the advantages and features of ERes:

• ERes is “one-stop-shopping” for our students. ERes can include electronic content such as articles, book chapters, lectures notes, and student papers as well as “point” to hard copy materials on reserve at the Circulation desk. UHD students using the system will find their course and see a list of all available course reserve material – both electronic and hard copy.
• The system allows online access by multiple users. Electronic reserves are available online to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when the library is closed. A single electronic copy is all that is needed for an entire class, no matter how large the class.
• Electronic reserve material does not deteriorate over time and cannot be damaged or stolen. Students see a “fresh” copy each time they access the system.
• Instructors can have more control over their reserve listings by easily adding or removing electronic reserve materials without leaving their home or office or contacting the Library.
• Instructors can link to ERes within their Vista courses.
• Instructors can comply with copyright law by limiting access to reserve materials to students in their courses.
• Instructors can include additional features such as announcements and office hours which can be displayed on the course page.

The use of ERes as a location tool for hard-copy reserve items will happen transparently by the beginning of Summer I. Students will access it the way they do now, via a link on the Library’s top-level page. Some faculty members teaching summer courses may be approached soon to assist in piloting electronic reserves. For summer sessions, anyone who is interested in starting to make materials available electronically should contact Shannon Cunningham at x8469.

During Fall 2007, the transition from hard-copy photocopied material to electronic will continue. The option to make your hard-copy reserves electronic will be fully available in Fall 2007. By Spring 2008, if all goes as planned, the kind of hard-copy materials that would usually be placed in folders on reserve will be moved entirely online. (Of course, books that are not available electronically will still be made available on reserve in the library.) This will provide the utmost in accessibility and copyright protection for our students and our institution.

Lisa Carrico, Circulation Librarian
Shannon Cunningham, Interlibrary Loan and Distance Education Librarian