Course Reserves goal is to provide Kent State faculty, students, and staff access to required and supplemental course readings and other materials while complying with  United States Copyright Law and applicable guidelines.

Quality of Materials

• Submission of good-quality copies is highly recommended for better screen viewing and faster processing.  All submitted materials are returned to faculty after processing is completed.  Every effort is made to return all materials in their original condition.  However, circumstances may prevent the return of the materials in their original condition because of spiral binding, binding becomes loose, heavy duty staples, etc.

Required Lead Time for Processing

• Requests are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.  Every effort will be made to accommodate all requests in a timely manner.  Because of the high volume of incoming requests at the beginning of each semester, faculty are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible.

Required Forms

• To expedite processing of requests, appropriate forms need to be filled out for each course and for all materials.  Forms must be accurately completed with required information, including course and course number, course section number, call number, etc.  Forms that are submitted with copies of library books, journal articles, books, etc. are processed with minimum delays.  Incomplete forms will delay processing. 
• Faculty are encouraged to submit their reserve requests using Ares.  
• Print forms are available in the Course Reserves Office.

Copyright Guidelines, Fair Use, and TEACH Act

• Staff reserves the right to decline requests judged to exceed fair use or TEACH Act exemptions of U.S. Copyright Law.  Course Reserves will routinely monitor this policy and make every effort to ensure that UL is in compliance with U.S. Copyright Law, applicable guidelines, and best practices.

Copyright Clearance Fees

• Course Reserves makes every effort to minimize copyright clearance costs.  Links to licensed full-text electronic resources may be provided in lieu of a PDF.  This may require students to authenticate for off-campus access. 
• Student enrollment for each course is required for Course Reserves to determine copyright fees.  
• Subject Librarians are available to assist in locating alternative, similar materials with lower or no copyright clearance costs.

Copyright Clearance Denials

• Course Reserves staff will notify faculty via email regarding refusal of the publisher to grant copyright clearance.  After faculty are notified of copyright denial, material will be removed from the course.  Faculty may discuss other options with Course Reserves or seek the assistance of Subject Librarians in locating alternative materials.

Original Works by Faculty

• Faculty authorship does not automatically indicate faculty copyright ownership of articles published in scholarly journals or of chapters contributed to books or encyclopedias. Course Reserves  will seek copyright permissions unless proof of ownership can be provided.

Original Works by Students

• Kent State students own the copyright to any original works produced for classes.  These materials are subject to the same copyright guidelines as published materials.  UL requires copyright permission in the form of a waiver to be signed by the student after the first semester's use or if the amount of the material is judged to exceed fair use.  If no copyright permission is obtained by faculty from students, faculty may be held liable for copyright infringement.  For more information, see Copyright for Student Authors.

ELECTRONIC RESERVE

ARES

• UL has implemented Ares as its print and electronic course management system.  Ares requires a Flashline ID and password to login.  If you are not registered for a course (student), not teaching (instructor) or not a course proxy, you will get a create an account page when you login.  It will require you to fill in your name, email, status and Flashline ID.  The Course Reserves staff will need to clear the request before you can access any courses.

Portable Document Format (PDF)

• Most documents will be converted to PDF files that can be viewed and printed across computing platforms (e.g., Windows and Macintosh).  Other file formats may be submitted, including image files such as gif, jpeg, etc. Links to licensed full-text electronic resources may be provided in lieu of uploading a PDF; this may require students to authenticate for off-campus access.

Access to Inactive Courses

• Ares provides faculty with their past courses and materials.  Students will be able to see their print and electronic reserve materials one week before classes begin and will lose access after finals week. Course Reserves can provide only bibliographic citations for course materials.  Materials may be obtained at the Library, OhioLINK, or through Interlibrary Loan.  

Electronic Books

• Electronic books can be placed in Ares  only in the form of links.  Some electronic books require "checkout" in order to view, or there may be restrictions regarding simultaneous users and checkouts. Links to individual chapters may not be technologically possible.  Many electronic book sites require students to authenticate for off-campus access.

Off-site web links

• Course Reserves can include links to web sites.   Ares has a link checker which will report a broken link.  Faculty will be contacted and asked for current or alternative links.

Streaming Videos

• For requests to place streaming video on Ares and/or Blackboard, faculty are asked to contact Course Reserves. These requests require a minimum of three weeks processing time. 

Blackboard Learn

• Reserve Services provides instructions for linking electronic reserves to your Blackboard Learn course.
• Course Reserves does not process copyright requests for material on Blackboard.  Please contact Cindy Kristof, Head of Copyright and Document Services for assistance.

PRINT RESERVE

Library or Personal Copies of Materials

• Physical materials (books, DVDs, etc.) may be placed on print reserve if they are owned by Kent State University Libraries or personal copies owned by the faculty. There is no limit placed on the number of physical materials on reserve per course.  Personal copies will be labeled, and barcoded.  Several loan periods exist to suit the needs of the course or material type.

Extended Check-out of Reserve Materials

• Faculty who wish to check out materials on reserve for use in class are asked to contact Course Reserves to arrange extended loan periods.  Students must contact course instructors for permission for extended loan periods. If materials are on reserve for more than one course, extended loan periods may not be granted.

Special Collections Materials

• Materials in Special Collections will NOT be placed on reserve.  Second copies can be purchased or personal copies may be placed on reserve instead.

OhioLINK, Interlibrary Loan Materials, Course Packets

• Materials borrowed through OhioLINK or Interlibrary Loan will NOT be placed on reserve. Materials may be purchased for reserve instead.  Course packets cannot be placed on reserve either.  Instructors may want to consider having the individual readings placed on electronic reserve.

Purchasing Requested Materials

• Materials can be ordered by faculty to be placed on reserve by contacting the appropriate Subject Librarian. Faculty should notify Course Reserves regarding the purchase to facilitate processing.

Community Borrowers/Alumni use of Reserve Materials

• Community borrowers and alumni are permitted to check out reserve materials as long as they have an actual account that can be verified and materials are not in high demand.  

Removing Materials

• Faculty may request to have their materials removed or inactivated from reserve at any time during the semester by notifying Course Reserves. Course Reserve staff will remove reserve materials if a course is not being taught during the current semester, lack use, or if the instructor leaves the University/retire.  Personal copies will be returned to the faculty via campus mail, unless other arrangements were made in advance with Reserve Services.