Textbook purchase request form
Instructor's Guide to Course Reserves
Electronic Reserves
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Contact Reserve Staff:

Check out texbooks from the Library 

The library proactively purchases all course textbooks that cost $75 or more listed at the UW Tacoma Shop. This includes books listed before the start of the quarter through week three. Textbooks are available at the circulation desk on the first floor of the Tioga Library Building (TLB). Students may check out textbooks on a first come, first serve basis for 24 hours at time. 

Keep in Mind:

Each academic quarter we purchase materials and update UW Libraries Search daily. Your textbook may be on the way, even if it does not show up in your search results. We try to purchase every available textbook over $75, but due to purchasing and processing delays not all textbooks arrive in a timely manner. If you want to know if your textbook has been ordered email tacres@uw.edu. 


FAQs

How long do textbooks checkout?

All books purchased through the textbook program can be checked out for 24 hours. If the Library is closed 24 hours after checkout, books will be due back the next day the Library is open. Other course reserves selected by your instructor may have different loan periods.

What about textbooks that cost less than $75?

If your textbook costs less than $75 it may still be availabe from the Library through course reserves or in the general collection. Your instructor may request any material be put on reserve that will support your course. Even students can request reserves! Just fill out a request form and we will try to make the textbook for the Library. Please be aware, purchasing a new book usually takes several weeks, so request early if you want to have a copy on reserve!

Where else on campus can I get a copy of my textbook?

You can always ask your instructor if they have a personal copy available to put on course reserve at the Library. The TLC Quantitative Center also has copies of current math and science textbooks that can be used while studying or during consultations. TLC copies are for in-library use only.

You may also be able to check out your textbook through another library. Books from other libraries in the Pacific Northwest and around the world are available through Summit Borrowing and Interlibrary Loan. 

Who can I talk to if I have questions?
Exceptions

The library will make every attempt to purchase all course texts $75 and over; however, some course resources such as online labs or other "course code" materials are designed for individual registration and can't be purchased and made available through the Library. If you are uncertain if your textbook will be available, email our reserve staff. 

Instructor's Guide to Course Reserves

Reserve Request Forms

Book Request Form
Request UW Libraries books for reserve

Media Material Request Form
Request UW Libraries media materials for reserve

Personal Copy Reserve Form
Copies available at the UW Tacoma Library circulation desk in the TLB

Provide access to course materials for students

Instructors may request that UW Libraries materials placed on reserve and/or provide their own materials to the Library for reserve. Once placed on reserve, these materials can be checked out from the UW Tacoma Library’s circulation desk in the TLB.

To serve as many students as possible, reserves have short loan periods. Loan periods for reserve materials are:

  • 2 hours
  • 4 hours
  • 4 hours, library use only
  • 24 hours (1 day)
  • 72 hours (3 days)

Note: If your textbook costs more than $75 and is available in the UW Tacoma Shop prior to week three of the quarter, the Library will purchase the book as part of our textbook purchasing program. If your book becomes available in the UW Tacoma Shop after week three, please email tacres@uw.edu if you would like the Library to purchase a copy. 

Submission Deadline

There is no deadline for submitting your reserve requests, but it is recommended to submit requests and/or materials as early as possible. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received. Materials can take up to two weeks to be processed during interim and the first weeks of the quarter. Submissions at other times can generally be processed within a few working days.

Submitting Requests for UW Libraries Materials

Most circulating UW Libraries materials can be placed on reserve at the UWT Library. Reserve request forms are available at the circulation desk, but can also be filled out online. 

Please note that it can take two weeks or more to acquire library materials for reserve if another user has checked them out. Materials may also be unavailable if they have already been placed on reserve at another UW library.

If the UW Libraries do not have the desired material, subject librarians can assist instructors in ordering a copy. Such orders generally take several weeks to be filled and should be arranged about one quarter before the material is needed.

Submitting Personal Materials

Instructors can submit their own books and other materials for reserve at the UW Tacoma Library circulation desk in the TLB.

Some examples of things that can be put on reserve are:

  • Personal copies of class textbooks
  • Supplemental readings
  • DVD/VHS or other media
  • Maps
  • Scientific kits such as rock samples or other interactive objects
  • Art for student review

When dropping off personal materials, instructors will be asked to fill out a paper form with additional details about the course and length of checkout. If there is something not listed that you’d like your class to have access to, ask our staff or email tacres@uw.edu.

Barcodes and labels will be applied to non-library reserve materials so they can be checked out. Additionally, reserve materials are often heavily used and the Library does not assume responsibility for damage to or loss of instructor materials.

Electronic Reserves: Articles and eBooks in Canvas

Electronic Reserves Resources

Canvas Resources

FAQs

What is an Electronic Reserve or ‘eReserve’?
  • Online journals articles or eBooks owned by the UW Libraries. Instructors can link to these as course readings. Instructors do not need to review these items for copyright compliance. Please note that some online resources have a limited number of concurrent users. If you have questions about specific online journals or eBooks, contact your subject librarian.
  • Scanned copies of print journals or book chapters owned by the UW Libraries. Instructors can request these through their ILL account. These are subject to copyright compliance. The UW Libraries have a Step-by-Step Guide to Copyright Compliance and you are always free to ask copyright question by contacting Reserve staff at tacres@uw.edu.
  • Scanned copies of material not owned by the UW Libraries. Instructors can host any readings they choose in their Canvas page, but unless they are in the public domain those readings are subject to copyright compliance and royalties are generally required. Our Step-by-Step Guide to Copyright Compliance includes information about getting permission from copyright owners. If you have any questions, contact Reserve staff at tacres@uw.edu.
How will my Reserves be put in my Canvas page?
Will the Libraries still help with questions I have about posting copyrighted materials?

Yes! We have a  Step-by-Step Guide to Copyright Compliance on our website and you are always free to ask copyright questions by contacting Library staff at tacres@uw.ed.