Reserve Information: Students

General Information

Faculty may place materials on reserve for the use of students enrolled in their classes. Material on reserve is shelved in closed stacks behind the circulation desk and is usually limited to 2-hour in-library loans. Items from the library collection as well as personal materials such as course handouts, lecture notes, journal articles, or sample exams may be designated for reserve.

Looking up Reserves

1) Go to the library catalog.

2) Under Reserve Services choose either Course Number or Professor's Name.

For the course number search enter the FULL number, e.g. RS600 or ED100.  You may find two different listings for a course, like this:

RS600
RS600 ERL

Choose the ERL option; this stands for Educational Resources Library.  All courses with reserves at ERL will have this distinction after the course number.

For the professor's name search you generally only need their last name.  In some cases there are professors with the same last name; just look through the courses listed for each professor to find your course.

3) Find the item you are looking for.

It is helpful to have your syllabus with you when looking up reserves, as most professors give us the same titles that are on the course syllabus.  Sometimes, however, the title in the catalog may differ slightly from the syllabus.  Make sure to check authors' names and publication titles to assure that you find the right item.
Everything that the library has on reserve for a class is in the catalog.
If the item you are looking for is not in the computer most likely the professor has not brought it down to the library yet.  In rare cases the item is waiting to be put on reserve; you can ask a staff member to check the reserve coordinator's desk.

4) Fill out a blue Reserve Slip with the Call Number.

You may check out up to three reserve items at a time. When you finish with those items, you may come back and exchange them for others that you require.

There are three types of Call Numbers.

XE 1 call numbers denote a book or binder which is stored on a shelf behind the desk.  This is followed by the first 2 letters of the professor's name and a number assigned by library staff.  For example Professor Gordon's reserves would be XE 1 GO 1,2,3...etc.

XE 2 call numbers denote a photocopy or article which is stored in a file drawer.  (The rest of the call number follows as XE 1's do, with professor initials and individual item's number). Some items have more than one copy. These are followed by c.1, c.2, c.3 , etc., indicating the copy number of the item (XE 1 GO 1 c.2).  Every copy should be exactly the same.  If you find a copy that is missing pages/articles, please alert a staff member to the problem. Call numbers are assigned to reserve items sequentially as they come in to the library.  You cannot assume that all the reserves for one class will be sequential (i.e. the first reserve is XE 1 GO 1, so the next reserve I need must be XE 1 GO 2).  You must look up each item's call number.

Library call numbers are library-owned books that have been placed on reserve.  Their call numbers are regular Library of Congress call numbers (LB1140 T5 1990).  Please write down the entire call number, as some items can have similar beginnings to their call numbers.

Reserve slips are blue and look like this:

Educational Resources Library
Reserve Materials

CALL NUMBER:
1)……………………
2)……………………
3)……………………
TIME DUE:

This material is to be returned
No later than the time above.

Reserve Fines:
2 Hour Loan $2.00/hour
24 Hour Loan $10.00/day
3 Day Loan $10.00/day
7 Day Loan $10.00/day

The slips are located near the computer terminals and at the front desk.  If there are no slips available please alert circulation desk staff.

Checking out Reserves

1) Hand the Reserve Slip to a staff member at the Circulation Desk.

2) Have your BUID ready for check out.

If you don't have a BUID but are in the library system (all registered students are in the library system) you may use a photo ID (driver's license, passport) for check out.

3) A staff member will check the item out to you and write down the time/date due on the Reserve Slip. 

You are responsible for the time/date due, even if you lose the Reserve Slip.

The following are all of the possible loan periods:

Two hours only. Does not go out overnight; loan period two hours. If checked out less than two hours before closing, item is due at closing. On Reserve slip staff will mark the date and hour due.

Two hour/ overnight. May leave the library overnight; loan period two hours. If checked out less than two hours before closing, item is due within one hour after the library opens the next day. (On Saturdays, the item is due one hour after opening on Monday). You may want to use the book return drop in the alley behind SED (when the library is closed) to assure items are returned on time. On Reserve slip staff will mark the date and hour due.

1 Day Loan. Due back the next day (before closing). On Reserve slip staff will mark the date due.

3 Day Loan. Due back in three days (before closing on the third day).  On Reserve slip staff will mark the date due.

7 Day Loan. Due back in seven days (before closing on the seventh day). On Reserve slip staff will mark the date due.


PERL does not accept holds on reserve items. Reserve items are checked out on a first come, first served basis.  
We also do not renew Reserve items; this is to assure that other students will have access to the reserves.

Returning Reserve Items to the Library

Returning Items

Return all Reserve Items to the Circulation Desk. If you are returning a Reserve Item after hours (for a 2-hour overnight check-out) you may use the drop slot located in the alley next to SED.

Reserve Fines

Reserve Fines can accrue when reserve materials are not returned on time. If a you wish to dispute a fine please contact a full time staff member at the circulation desk during day-time hours (M-F 8:30-5, Sat. 10-5) or call at (617)353-3734. 

Reserve Items - 2 Hour and 2 Hour/Overnight Loans

  • $2.00 per hour per item
  • $150.00 replacement charge on the 3rd day or cost of the item, whichever is greater.

Reserve Items - 24 Hour, 3 Day, and 7 Day Loans

  • $10.00 per day
  • $150.00 replacement charge on the 3rd day or cost of the item, whichever is greater
2 Sherborn Street  |  Boston, MA  |  02215  |  617-353-3734  |  Boston University