Posted: Wed, Jan 27th 2021
We are piloting a new service to scan limited amounts of required reading to send to your Canvas course for the fall semester and while the COVID-19 crisis limits access to physical reserves in the libraries.
This service is limited to required materials that are not available in any other format and is designed to mirror the experience of physical reserves in the library. If the library can purchase an e-book license for the book, for under $300, we will do so. If you would like assistance finding alternative readings, including open educational resources, please contact your liaison librarian. Where alternatives are not possible, nor digital copies legally licensable for libraries, instructors can request Tisch Library scan parts of the book with some provisos relying on our interpretation of fair use.
Please request the amount of the book you require students to read and no more. We will scan up to the entire book, but only if you are assigning students to read the entire book. Please help us be compliant with fair use and copyright law and limit your requests to the minimum amount you require.
We must own the book in the collection. Personal copies will not work. We will purchase additional copies at the ratio of 1 book per 25 students, up to 4 copies, similar to how we would for print reserves.
We will put the files up in Box and send you a link to a folder with the files via Canvas. The link should not be shared outside your course. And we’ve put in some extra controls to limit printing and downloading. The link to the folder in Box will expire at the end of the semester.
To request this service, use the Reading List tool in your Canvas course site. Step-by-step instructions on how to add information about your required readings are available at Canvas Reading List Tool – Adding a Chapter Request.
We are not sure how to predict demand for this service. Please leave as much time as possible for us to process your requests. Not only is this a new service, but one that requires we continue to maintain safe access for staff and our student employees to our buildings to be able to provide it. Handling materials also requires extra safety protocols at each stage, so we expect things to move a little slower. Thanks for your patience.
For questions:
About the Reading List tool, contact tischres@tufts.edu
About alternative readings and open educational resources – your department’s liaison librarian
General questions: https://tischlibrary.tufts.edu/get-help/ask-librarian