Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are faculty and teaching assistants able to manage their own course reserve sites?
2. What kind of documents can I put on reserve?
3. Are hard copy reserves being eliminated?
4. Who is responsible for making sure my e-reserves comply with copyright law?
5. Is it possible to save reserves to use them in a future semester?
6. Whom do I contact to establish an account for e-reserves?
7. What is the Teach Act and how does it effect course reserves?
8. I already use WebCT Vista for my classes, do I still need e-Reserves?

1. Are faculty and teaching assistants able to manage their own course reserve sites?

Yes. Once you have established an account, you can create your own course web sites, add documents and manage them. See "Managing Your Own Course Page" for more information.

2. What kind of documents can I put on reserve?

ERes handles most types of documents, including PDF, html, Word and Excel. Keep in mind that your students will need to have access to software that will allow them to view the documents. For example, if you put an Excel file on your course page, your students will need a software program that will allow them to view an Excel file. If you have questions regarding ways to make your files more accessible to your students who may not have appropriate software, you can contact the e-Reserves staff for assistance.

3. Are hard copy reserves being eliminated?

No, you may still place books, videos and other non-electronic sources on reserve at the appropriate campus library. See Hard Copy Reserves for more information on how to do this.

4. Who is responsible for making sure my e-reserves comply with copyright law?

While the e-Reserves staff monitors newly added documents, instructors are also responsible for complying with fair use. When the instructor uploads any material, the instructor should have already obtained copyright permission. See the section on copyright for more information. If you have further questions regarding copyright and how it affects your classroom materials, you can set up a copyright consultation with the libraries' Copyright Coordinator by contacting the e-Reserves staff.

5. Is it possible to save reserves to use them in a future semester?

Yes, individual items and even entire course reserve pages may be archived for later use. You may ask the e-Reserves staff for assistance restoring your previous course pages.

6. Whom do I contact to establish an account for e-reserves?

You can follow the instructions given on the "How To Get Started" page of this Instructor Guide. Or you can contact the e-Reserves staff via email eres@uflib.ufl.edu or phone number (352) 273-2520.

7. What is the TEACH Act and how does it affect course reserves?

The TEACH Act [Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act] addresses fair use of copyrighted material in distance education. While the TEACH Act does not apply to electronic course reserves, we do use the ERes system to make materials available for distance learning. For more information, consult:

Division of Continuing Education. Copyright in Distance Education. University of Florida, 2004.

Laura Gasaway, "Balancing Copyright Concerns: The TEACH Act of 2001," Educause Review (Nov.-Dec. 2001).

Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act. Association of Research Libraries, Washington, DC. 2003.

8. I already use WebCT Vista, do I still need e-Reserves?

You may link from your WebCT course page to your library course reserves list. Once we have your course page set up, you will have a persistent URL you can put into your WebCT course page. Your students will be able to click that link in WebCT and it will send them directly to your ERes course page with all your electronic reserves materials listed and organized in whatever way you request. Visit the Electronic Reserves page for examples of different kinds of materials we can place on ERes for you.