What do I have to do to place the required textbooks for my course on Reserve?

If you have notified the bookstore of your required texts, nothing. The bookstore will inform the library of what needs to be placed on Reserve. back to top^

What can I do to speed up the process?

The sooner the bookstore is aware of what you need for your class, they sooner the library will find out from them.

Additionally, you can inform the library of what texts are required for your course (even in advance of informing the bookstore!) via the Faculty Reserve Inquiry form. If the library already owns the materials in question, it will pull them from the shelves and set them aside for the coming semester. If it does not, then we will order them from the bookstore.

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How can I find out what Sawyer Library has on Reserve for my course?

There is an option to request that information on the Faculty Reserve Inquiry form. Simply fill it out and a member of Circulation staff will get back to you regarding the status of your materials.

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My students are complaining that they cannot complete an assignment because the library does not have a particular required textbook! What can we do?

Sawyer Library is constantly acquiring new Reserve material, particularly as the semester begins and the material becomes available at the Suffolk bookstore. If you wish to check on the status of material available for your class, please use the Faculty Reserve Inquiry form.

Common reasons why the library does not have a particular title include:

• It is on the way to the Reserves shelf, but has yet to arrive. Every semester both the bookstore and the library have to process some 1,500 titles for courses, which takes time. We both are working as fast as possible to make sure each title gets on the shelf in a timely manner, but there will inevitably be some delays.
• It is backordered at the bookstore. Because the library receives all of its Reserve materials from the bookstore, if they do not have it on the shelf, then we will not have it on the shelf.
• The library is unaware that the book is a required text. The library receives all its information from the bookstore. If they are not aware of the need for a particular title, then unless you have contacted the library separately, we will not be aware of it either.

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I saw that only faculty can remove Reserve books from the library. How do I set this up?

• If you are checking out a book that is on Reserve for your own course, simply identify yourself and show you Suffolk ID when checking out the book.
• If you want to check out a book being used by another professor’s course, you must seek their permission. A written note or an email from said professor to the Circulation Manager, Drew Meger (ameger@suffolk.edu), is required.
• If you would like to arrange for your students to be able to check out Reserve material for your course from the library, please contact Drew Meger (ameger@suffolk.edu) to arrange it.

Please remember that Reserve material is held on Reserve for a reason and to please try to return any borrowed material within 48 hours.

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I have some of my own personal material I would like to place on Reserve. Can I do this?

Of course! Just bring the material to the main Circulation Desk. One of our staff will be able to help you.

We will not process your personal materials to the same extent we process library-owned material. Please be aware that your own material may see increased wear and tear due to student use.

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I saw that Sawyer Library owns a book that, while not required for my course, I would like to have placed on Reserve so my students can use it. How do I do this?

Easy – either stop by the library and speak to a member of Circulation staff or email Drew Meger (ameger@suffolk.edu) with the title, author, and call number of the book plus the course number you would like it put on Reserve for.

Please note that if the book is a required book for another course, then that course has priority. Your students will still be able to borrow the book from Reserves, but it will be shelved with that course’s materials. 

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I have a packet of articles or copies of chapters I have made that I’d like placed on Reserve. How do I do that?

The process is the same as bringing in your own personal copies of material for Reserve. Just bring the packet to the main Circulation desk and we will be happy to put them on Reserve in our Course Article cabinets under your course number.

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