Course Resource Service policy

These guidelines are for faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University who are placing readings on Reserve at any of its libraries. 

Course Resources uses the software Ares to create a list management system. This tool allows students to access course readings. Instructors can create off-campus links to library resources such as journal articles and/or electronic ebooks. In addition, this service provides a mechanism for you to digitize book chapters, as well as freely available online contact, for instance Open Education Resources (OERs). This centralizes access for instructors and students to have one single access point for reading materials that are copyright compliant and AODA accessible. 

Why use Course Resource Services?

The library will

• scan print books or journal articles that meet licensing, copyright and accessibility policies
• create and provide links to electronic library resources that can be accessed both on- and off- campus
• adapt materials to meet accessibility standards
• make the readings available to students through MyLearningSpace (MyLS)

Please note that the library is unable to provide electronic access to many commercial textbooks because of publisher licensing restrictions. 

Photocopies and Scanned Documents

The library will scan material on behalf of instructors for use in the online course resource system. Scanned copies of readings can be processed to ensure AODA compliance. 

A full citation is required for all material requiring digitization. Scanned PDFs will be made accessible to students and stored in the library's online reading system. 

Physical Items and Personal Physical Reserves

The course resource service allows instructors to set aside (or to reserve) course materials for short-term use. Physical books and DVDs will be placed in an open stack area in the library for students to access. Instructors personal copies of physical items the library does not have in its collection can be placed in this location. 

Use of copyright material for courses

• Paper coursepacks must be procesed through the Hawk shop
• Copyrighted digital documents (PDFs, scanned from print, or other digital format) posed to student learning management system must be processed through the library's Copyright and Course Resource Service
• For all links to copyright documents, you are encouraged to use the library's Copyright and Course Resource Service in order to ensure stable links, course material is located in one location for students, accessibility and copyright compliance. Instructors posting directly in MyLS are responsible for ensuring copyright compliance.

See also our Copyright quick guide

Contact us

For reserves: libreserves@wlu.ca

For copyright: libcopyright@wlu.ca