Created: April 2024
Historically, the library has not collected textbook materials. However, to support affordable learning initiatives on campus, the library is creating a textbook collection, focusing specifically on material for high-cost and high-enrolled classes and classes with multiple sections.
Funding
Faculty may request textbook materials to be purchased instead of other material from their annual allocation of the library鈥檚 book budget. The library will attempt to purchase one copy of required texts, focusing specifically on material for high-cost and high-enrolled classes and classes with multiple sections. Additional copies may be considered for high demand items.
If the requested textbook is already owned by the library, it should be treated like a regular reserve request.
Donations
Thomas Library accepts donations of new and used textbooks to make available to students. Donations of publications over 10 years will not be accepted.
Faculty members may place their own copies of textbooks on reserve without donating to the library via the Book Reserve Form /lib/about/policies/reserves/guide
Format
The library will prioritize physical copies of textbooks, however, where available and affordable, an unlimited-seat electronic version of the textbook may be purchased instead.
Access
Physical textbooks will be placed on reserve, for use within the library during the specified time limit, typically two hours with no option for overnight lending. Textbooks cannot be placed on hold or renewed.
Books that are not being used in the current semester may be placed in the circulating collection with local lending rules applied. The library may choose to keep textbooks on reserve even if they are not being used as instructional material that semester.
Textbook Loan Copyright Statement
All users of the textbook loan program must abide by Federal Copyright Law: Title 17 of the US Code. Under the educational application of Fair Use, patrons may photocopy or scan portions of textbooks assigned for scholarship and research for personal use only as long as the total amount of copied/scanned comprises 10% or less of the entire textbook they are using. Patrons may not scan or photocopy a textbook in its entirety or distribute copies to students, friends, or classmates in either digital or print formats.