Library Reserves

Gutman Library facilitates delivery of required course readings to students in digital format through the Library Reserves page in Canvas. Gutman Library works closely with Harvard Library to fulfill new requests.

To ensure students have access to required course materials by the first day of courses, faculty, teaching teams, and faculty coordinators should try to adhere to the following deadlines:

August/Foundations

• Monday, June 30: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Wednesday, July 9: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday August 1: Goal for Library to have all readings ready for students to use.
• Wednesday August 6: First day of classes.

Fall and Fall 1

• Friday July 11: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Friday July 18: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday, August 29: Goal for Library to have Weeks 1 and 2 readings ready for students to use.
• Tuesday, September 2: First day of classes.

Fall 2

• Friday August 22: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Friday August 29: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday, October 10: Goal for Library to have Weeks 1 and 2 readings ready for students to use.
• Wednesday, October 15: First day of classes.

January

• Friday, October 31: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Friday, November 7: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday, December 19: Goal for Library to have all readings ready for students to use.
• Monday, January 5: First day of classes.

Spring and Spring 1

• Friday, November 21: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Friday, December 5: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday, January 23: Goal for Library to have Weeks 1 and 2 readings ready for students to use.
• Monday, January 26: First day of classes.

Spring 2

• Friday, January 30: Faculty share syllabus/required reading list with Faculty Coordinator.
• Friday, February 6: Faculty Coordinators submit Library Reserves List to Gutman Library for processing.
• Friday, March 20: Goal for Library to have Weeks 1 and 2 readings ready for students to use.
• Monday, March 23: First day of classes,

Adding New Readings to Library Reserves

If you are adding a new citation/reading to a syllabus, use the integrated HOLLIS search tab in the Library Reserve Tool in Canvas to see if it is already owned or available at Gutman or another Harvard Library in digital format:

Available through Gutman or Harvard Library

• Select the item (blue, plus sign icon) to add a related citation in the Library Reserves Tool. Students will be able to access the material immediately.

Not available through Gutman or Harvard Library

• Create a new citation in the Library Reserves Tool for the needed material.

Re-Using or Deleting Unneeded Readings from Library Reserves

• If a course has been offered in the past, the Library Reserves list from that course is retained and rolled-over/re-used for the new instance of the course in Canvas. All citations, including any attached files, will be retained and available for students to access. Delete/remove any items that will not be re-used and submit requests. Faculty and teaching teams can email the Course Materials Team (reserves@gse.harvard.edu) with any questions or if support is needed.

Submitting your Library Reserves List

• Once you've added or edited citations on your List, use the "My List is Ready" button to notify the Course Reserves Team that your List is ready to be reviewed. From there, they will confirm existing access, order any new content, scan and remediate any content, and keep you updated on progress along the way.

Course Materials Requests

Contact the Gutman Library Course Materials Team (reserves@gse.harvard.edu) with any questions about requesting or accessing course materials and using the Library Reserves Tool in Canvas. You can also explore the library's FAQ entries about course materials processes and tools.

Faculty Support Services

You can also contact the Faculty Coordinator assigned to your course with questions. The Course Materials Team works very closely with all Faculty Coordinators on course materials workflows. If you do not know which Coordinator is assigned to your course, please contact Matt Tallon (matthew_tallon@gse.harvard.edu), the Administrative Director of Faculty Support Services.

Canvas Assistance

Contact the IT Service Center if you need support adding the Library Reserves Tool to your courses in Canvas or if you have any other technical assistance needs related to Canvas.