What is the Reserve Collection?

The Reserve collection at the Mildred F. Sawyer Library is designed to assist Suffolk University students with their education and coursework by making required reading material available to them for use inside the library.

Mildred F. Sawyer Library will attempt to collect two copies of every book required for every course offered at the College of Arts and Sciences and the Sawyer Business School.

Please note that the Reserve collection is designed only to supplement and assist students with their studies, not to replace the need to purchase required textbooks. Students wishing guaranteed access to their course materials are encouraged to buy their books at the Suffolk University bookstore.

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Where do I get Reserve material?

From the main Circulation Desk. Please have the course number (HIS 310, GVT 335, ACCT 201, etc) and either the title or author ready when you ask for the item in order to speed your request.

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What do I need to check out Reserve material?

You need a valid Suffolk University ID. If you do not have a Suffolk ID, you may not check out Reserves under any circumstances. Due to security requirements, Sawyer Library may not accept driver’s licenses, credit cards, or passports in lieu of a Suffolk ID.

Replacement IDs are obtainable from the Suffolk Security Booth located in the Sawyer Building at 12 Ashburton Place.

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How long can I use a Reserve book for?

When you check out an item from Reserve, you have two hours of in-library use guaranteed. If you need to use the item longer and there are no other students needing to use it, you may renew the book to extend your use.

If another student needs to use a book you have borrowed for more than two hours, a member of Circulation Staff will call for its return over the Public Address system.

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How many Reserve items can I check out at one time?

Three.

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Can I take a Reserve Book out of the library?

No.

The only exception that may be made to this policy is on the behalf of faculty members wishing to take out Reserve items for courses they are teaching. Faculty members may arrange for others to take Reserve items for courses they are teaching out of the library by contacting Circulation staff.

Patrons caught attempting to remove Reserve materials from the library may lose their access to the Reserves collection, group study rooms, and even library  laptop computers in addition to being fined 1$ per hour the item is missing. The Reserve collection is designed to benefit all of Suffolk University and it cannot do so if material is taken into personal possession outside the library.

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I asked for a book for my class, but was told at the Circulation desk that you do not have it. Why?

Sawyer Library works to make sure two copies of each required text ends up in the Reserve collection. Usually, a given title is unavailable because both of these copies have been checked out.

However, sometimes material is not available on the shelf for the following reasons:

• It is not a required text. Sawyer Library only collects Required texts.
• It is not yet available at the Suffolk Bookstore. Sawyer library receives all of its Reserve texts from the bookstore. If bookstore does not have it, it is unlikely the library will either.
• It is being processed. New materials must be cataloged and processed before they are available for borrowing. Please check back a day or so.
• The bookstore has not informed the library of the book’s required status yet. Starting about a month from the first day of class, the bookstore sends the library lists of what materials are required for each course for the coming semester. This process takes weeks and while both the library and the bookstore strive to make sure everything is available on the first day of class, this is not always possible.
• The library owns the book, but it was checked out before the library learned that it should be on Reserve. It is not uncommon for students to learn what texts are required for their course before the library. Sawyer Library asks that these students, rather than checking out the book for themselves, notify the library so we can make sure it is available to everyone. Checked out books needed for Reserve will be recalled. Students failing to return recalled Reserve books may lose access to Reserves, library laptops, and group study rooms in addition to fines until the materials are returned. If you see a classmate that has a library-owned copy of a book required for your class outside of the library, they have effectively stolen access to that material from you.

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I asked for a Reserve book, but was told both copies were checked out and that the earliest one due back is not due for another hour. Can I put my name on a wait list?

Unfortunately, Sawyer Library lacks the resources to manage a wait list for individual titles. Reserve material is first come, first serve.

If the text in question has been checked out for more than two hours, a member of Circulation staff will recall it over the PA system.

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I tried to use a Reserve book, but it was missing pages and therefore not helpful. Will you order a replacement book?

Unfortunately, except in rare cases, no. Damaged books may be replaced at the start of the semester if it is found that the copies are still needed, but vandalized material will not be replaced.

Please be respectful of your fellow students and refrain from ripping out pages or writing in Reserve books. Photocopiers are available on every floor of the library.

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