Reserves are materials and resources that professors have identified
to use for a class. They can be either print or electronic.
Print reserves are books and audiovisual materials that have been set aside for a class at a specific library.
Electronic reserves are materials that have been scanned and uploaded to a course’s Stellar site. Access is usually limited to students enrolled in the course.
The reserve collection includes books, videos, CDs, and any other materials an instructor has requested we set aside for a class. Some professors may provide course readers or problem set solutions to the library to place on the reserve as well.
No. Textbooks are placed on reserve at the request of the course faculty or TA. If your course textbooks are not on reserve, ask your professor or TA to submit the information through the MIT Textbook Submission form. Items may be added to the course reserve collection throughout the semester.
An item may occasionally be listed as in the "Reserve Stacks" in Barton, our online catalog, when in fact it is not currently being used for a class. This normally happens in the weeks leading up to the start of classes, and immediately after the end of the term. Ask at the library service desk to see if an item listed as on reserve is indeed a current reserve item.
You can borrow as many reserve items as you want. However, keep in mind that most items will only circulate for 2 hours, and that other students may want to see the materials as well.
Generally, you can borrow reserve books for 2 hours, and videos for 4 hours. This shortened time limit is to give everyone in the class a chance to see the materials.
Some materials may circulate for longer periods; check with the library service desk for details.
If you borrow or renew a reserve item within 2 hours of the library closing (or 4 hours for videos), you can keep it overnight until 1 hour after the library opens the next day. Check the library hours.
At the Music Library, some print reserve materials can be borrowed overnight, and media ((CDs, DVDs, laserdiscs, VHS, and cassettes) cannot be borrowed overnight. Ask the desk staff for assistance.
No, reserves are available on a first come, first served basis. However, if a reserve item you want to borrow is currently checked out, contact the library service desk to block renewals of that item.
An item may occasionally be listed as in the "Reserve Stacks" in Barton, our online catalog, when in fact it is not currently being used for a class. This normally happens immediately after the end of the term. Ask at the library service desk to see if an item listed as on reserve is indeed a current reserve item.
Yes, you may renew most reserve materials up to 3 times through Your Account or by contacting the library service desk where you checked them out. However, if another student is waiting to use the material, it may not be renewed.
No, reserve items must be returned to the library service desk where they were borrowed. Items returned to other libraries can take up to two days to get back to their proper location, and during that time, they are unavailable for others to borrow.
When the library is closed, you may return reserves to the book return outside the library where you borrowed them. However, if an item is large or fragile, please return it to the library service desk if possible.
You will be charged a fine of $2.00 per hour (including any portion of an hour) if a reserve item is returned late. There is a short grace period before the fines begin to accrue.
When the Libraries post a reading on Stellar or link to an electronic resource, we restrict access to comply with copyright law and licensing restrictions. Fair Use provisions of the copyright law allow use of copyrighted materials on a limited basis for specific purposes without the permission of the copyright holder. Additionally, some electronic resources are restricted by license agreements that limit use.
What kinds of materials are on reserve?
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