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UVic Libraries

Course reserves

Course reserves, also called “course readings," are learning materials chosen by instructors. They can include books, articles, websites, videos and more.

Students and instructors can both access online course reserves through Brightspace.

Students

To access the course reserves platform through Brightspace:

  1. Log in to Brightspace and choose your course
  2. Navigate to Course Tools and select Course Reserves from the drop-down menu
  3. A new tab will open with your course reading list

Sometimes, your instructor may put a print book in course reserves. You can get most print course reserves at Mearns - McPherson Library. You can get print course reserves for law courses at the Priestly Library.

Print course reserves are available for a shorter loan period than regular print materials. This makes sure all students can access them. 

Instructors

You can access the course reserves platform through Brightspace. Use this platform to build and update reading lists for students.

Follow the instructions in the student section above to find your reading lists.

Consult the Course Reserves Reading Lists guide for instructions on how to create and manage reading lists. 

Workshop for instructors

Request an online, hands-on workshop to learn how to use the course reserves platform. You will be able to create interactive reading lists that are accessible through Brightspace:

  • create, edit and roll over lists
  • add items from the library catalogue, web resources and print materials
  • ensure that you're following UVic’s Fair Dealing Guidelines

Bring your syllabus, and we can help you get started!

If you are interested in arranging a workshop, please email reserves@uvic.ca.

Support for reading lists

If you would like help creating or updating your reading lists, email reserves@uvic.ca. Include the following information:

  • instructor name
  • instructor email
  • course number and section
  • term(s)
  • loan period
  • item details (author, title, publication date, publisher, call number)

Print reserves

We will only place an item on print reserves if it is a required reading for the course. If an ebook for the title is available, we will include a link in the reading list instead.

If you only need 10 per cent or 1 chapter of the title, we may be able to create an accessible PDF. We can upload the PDF to the reading list.

Fair dealing

All course reading lists must follow UVic’s Fair Dealing Guidelines.

Online resources:

  • create a permanent link for ebooks and journals the library subscribes to
  • link to open access resources online

Physical resources:

  • place personal copies (of textbooks, journals, etc.) on print reserve
  • upload a PDF of an article or book excerpt (make sure you’re within the limits of fair dealing)

Note: Sometimes, you may want to assign readings that exceed the Fair Dealing Guidelines. In this case, the UVic Bookstore may be able to create a coursepack with your course readings. The bookstore can sell these to students. Coursepacks and complimentary/desk copies of textbooks provided by publishers cannot be placed on course reserves.

Processing times

To make sure your reading lists are ready by the start of the semester, please submit them by the following dates:

  • summer semester (May–August): April 1
  • fall semester (September–December): August 15
  • spring semester (January–April): December 1

We will process requests in the order we receive them.

It can take 2 weeks to process requests we receive at the beginning of the semester. We will prioritize the readings for the first 3–4 weeks.

Contact

Do you have any questions? Have you found issues with the course reserves platform? Please visit our troubleshooting guide or contact us at reserves@uvic.ca.