Linking to electronic books and journal articles

The best way to provide access to course readings is through a link to an electronic resource posted on the class CourseWorks or Canvas page. To ensure access from both on- and off-campus, use links provided by the online catalog CLIO or the permalinks provided by a specific database, such as EBSCO.

Columbia University Libraries supply a proxy service to allow off-campus access to e-resources. For most resources, follow these steps:

1. In a web browser, go to the resource to be added to the course page. Most resources allow linking at the article or chapter level.
2. Copy the URL displayed in the address bar.
3. Test the URL in another browser to verify that the URL is stable.
4. Use the E-Resources Linking Tool to create a "proxied" link.
5. Post the link returned by the linking tool on the CourseWorks or Canvas website.

If you need assistance with proxy links or have any issues with reserves, please contact the Library for further assistance.

Adding print material to Course Reserves

The Health Sciences Library will add print material in our collection to Course Reserves upon request by an instructor or teaching assistant. The print material will be placed in the Course Reserves cabinet — a self-service technology in the Knowledge Center that allows for the material to be accessed 24/7 for 2-hour periods. To place print items on reserve, use the Add an Item to Course Reserves form.

Instructors may provide personal copies of material to place on course reserves. Personal copies will be returned at the end of the semester. If the Library does not own an item and a personal copy is not available, the Library will review options for obtaining a copy.

Adding streaming material to course reserves

When specified via our online request form, the Health Sciences Library will add streaming material in our collection to course reserves. Streaming material will appear as a link on your Course Reserves list. The Columbia University Libraries' Streaming Video Research Guide provides links to collections of features and documentaries.

When a streaming title is unavailable via Columbia's collection, the Library will explore licensing to fulfill course reserves requests. Requests are limited to three (3) films per course per semester and will be reviewed based on our collection development criteria. Depending on where the content is being sourced, streaming titles available for licensed streaming may take — at minimum — 3-7 days to become available.

It is important to note that a significant percentage of moving image content does not and may never have streaming access and that a license to stream content is not always available for educational purposes. For this reason, we ask faculty to plan ahead and reach out to the Library at least two weeks before the semester starts so that there is enough time for the Library to secure licenses (if available) or for faculty to search for alternatives when requested material is unavailable to the Library.

Copyright and fair use

Posting PDF scans of print materials or posting PDFs that have been previously been downloaded are both subject to fair use provisions of the Copyright Act, 92 U.S.C.107. Faculty are responsible for deciding whether scans or downloaded PDFs used for course purposes comply with the requirements of fair use. The Copyright Advisory Office provides guidance on the topic.

Materials used under Section 107 should be posted directly to the course's CourseWorks or Canvas site. Instructors are responsible for obtaining the required PDFs.

Accessing print Course Reserves

Print materials placed on reserve are held in the Course Reserves cabinet and anyone with borrowing privileges to the Library may check out reserve materials 24/7 for 2-hour periods. Reserve materials from the Health Science Library must be returned to the that location.

Loan periods

Print reserve materials are checked out in 2-hour increments. An instructor's personal copy cannot be removed from the Library.

Overdue Course Reserves material accrues fines at $2 per hour up to a maximum of $50 per returned item. For items that are not returned, users will be charged the overdue fines plus the cost of replacing the item, as well as an additional processing fee. The minimum amount is $100 per book. See the Borrowing and Fines for more information.

Electronic reserves

Online articles and e-books placed on electronic reserve by an instructor can be accessed via the Course Reserves login. Faculty members may also link to e-resources in their CourseWorks or Canvas pages.

To report any problems with e-reserves to the Library, use the Ask a Question form. Please be sure to include this information in your request:

• Your name
• Your UNI
• Course instructor
• Course number
• Title of the Course Reserve material