E-Reserves in Transition: Exploring New Possibilities in E-Reserves Service Delivery

Abstract

Nearly all academic libraries offer course reserves, and most have long considered it a core library service. However, expanding use of course management systems in academia have opened new opportunities for libraries interested in exploring changes to electronic reserves services. Budget constraints and staffing shortages have also led several institutions to consider eliminating or modifying their e-reserves operations. Potentially difficult challenges, however, also accompany making significant changes to often well-established practices.

This environmental scan of selected academic libraries across the United States discusses institutions that have maintained the status quo in e-reserves services, as well as those who have changed or discontinued these services. The article also provides insight on why some of the latter decided to make these changes.

KEYWORDS:

• reserves
• course reserves
• e-reserves
• electronic reserves
• course management systems (CMS)
• technology

Notes

1. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].

2. The following were excluded from the scan: Bibliothèque de l’ Université Laval, Bibliothèques de l’Université de Montréal, Boston Public Library, Canadian Institute for Scientific & Technical Information (CISTI), Center for Research Libraries, Library and Archives Canada, Library of Congress, National Agricultural Library, National Library of Medicine, New York Public Library, New York State Library, Smithsonian Institution Libraries.

3. http://www.lib.washington.edu/types/course/reservefaq.html, accessed December 9, 2010.

4. http://louisville.edu/copyright, accessed December 6, 2010.