Course Reserves FAQ

What kind of material can be placed on course reserves?

WWU faculty can place materials on course reserve to support classroom assignments at any time. Many items are eligible for course reserve

  • Any format, including print, media, and online
  • All Wilson and Music Library Materials
  • Full text articles from licensed electronic databases
  • Instructor's personal copies of books and other materials
  • Paper and scanned copies of material meeting Fair Use guidelines

What Loan Periods are used for Materials on Course Reserve?

  • The instructors designate the loan period for print and media items on reserve for their students. The most common loan period is 2 hours. Other borrowing periods are 1 day, 3 days and 7 days. Videos on Course Reserve are checked out for four hours and can be viewed only in the library. 
  • Items on Course Reserve in the Music Library are available for two hour/in-library use only. 

How do students find Course Reserve Reading Lists?

  • You can access the Course Reserve lists for your classes by selecting the Course Reserve tab on the Libraries' web page.  Reserve lists can be searched by instructor name or course title (e. g. Psychology 104). Each item is listed in alphabetical order by title.
  • Electronic material is found by clicking the first item on the list, titled "Click here for Electronic Material".

How do students find the Course Reserve Materials

Electronic Reserves

  • Available 24 hours from computers everywhere!

Western Library Course Reserves

  • Adjacent to Circulation Services
  • 2nd floor of the Haggard Wing of Wilson Library
  • Telephone: 360-650-3084

Western Library Video Course Reserves

  • At the Circulation Services Desk
  • 2nd floor of the Haggard Wing of Wilson Library
  • Telephone: 360-650-3084

Music Library Course Reserves

  • Music Library Circulation Desk
  • Performing Arts Center
  • Telephone: 360-650-3716
  • In Wilson Library, library-owned books retain their Library of Congress or other type of call number while on reserve. They are filed in call number order on the first set of shelves in the Reserve area adjacent to Circulation Services on the second floor of the Haggard Wing.  Instructor’s personal books are assigned a 4 or 5 digit call number and are shelved numerically on the half-height shelves. 
  • Available items are indicated by the word "Available" in the area labelled "Status" in the online record. Items that are checked out show the due date/time. Reserve items cannot be placed on recall or held behind the counter. All items must be returned to the area for 30 minutes before they can be checked out again. 
  • Videos on reserve in Wilson Library are located at the Circulation Desk on the second floor of the Haggard Wing of the library. Videos on reserve are checked out for 4 hours and must be viewed in the library. Viewing stations are located in the reserve area.
  • Music Library Course Reserves items are located in closed stacks. Access to these materials is by request at the Music Library Circulation Desk. 

What are the guidelines about using Course Reserve Materials?

  • In Wilson Library, material on reserve can be used in the Reserve area. To be removed from the Reserve area all items must be checked out. Your Western Card is required to borrow any library material, including material on reserve. All reserve media must remain within Wilson Library. 
  • All items on Course Reserve in the Music Library are two-hour/in-library use only. 
  • Fines are charged for overdue course reserve items at a rate of $2.00 per hour.

Additional Information & Assistance: 

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