Course Reserves

1. Send us your syllabus or reading list using the eReserves form.
    
2. Library staff will set up the readings for your course. We will:
   • Scan and upload book chapters and articles
   • Provide persistent links to library resources, webpages, and open access educational resources
   • Acquire new books and eBooks for the collection
   • Purchase copyright permissions, where required and available
   • Ensure readings meet student accessibility needs
      
3. Connect to the eReserves module in your Avenue to Learn course.

1. If you have not yet done so, activate your course through Avenue to Learn.
2. Go to "Content". If you do not have a module, at the bottom of the left hand side, where it says 'Add a Module', type in a module name and hit enter.
3. Select a module by clicking on the name on the left hand side.
4. Select (from the middle of the screen) the dropdown menu for "Add Additional Activities" or "Add Existing Activities".
5. Select "External Learning Tools".
6. Select "eReserves".
7. Important: Once the eReserves link has been created, click on it to finish the configuration, then select the term and create the course.

Adding eReserves to your Avenue to Learn course: Step-by-step instructions (PDF)

Don't see your course in Avenue to Learn?

Your course may not be activated. After requesting a new course shell and developing your course, you will need to then activate your course. Please note it takes 24 hours to process.

Items found on eReserve

• Links to library resources like databases, articles, and eBooks
• PDFs such as scanned book chapters, articles, and short excerpts
• Audio & video files
• Weblinks to publicly available resources

Items not found on eReserve

• Multiple chapters from a single print source. Purchasing permissions may be possible, depending on the extent of the work used.  
• Online versions of commercial textbooks, which are often not available for libraries to purchase. We will explore our options to determine if the textbook is available as a library eBook.
• Business cases licensed for individual use.
• Materials that fall outside of copyright compliance or our licensing agreements. 

We understand that sometimes courses are assigned at the last minute. We never place a hard deadline or cutoff date on submissions for eReserve, and we always strive for students to have first-day access to, at least, the first few weeks of readings. 

However, we get busier with the start of term, and it may take longer to process your complete list. Early submissions are welcome and revisions can be made at any time.

If you are a new faculty member with a course reading list but without access to an Avenue to Learn course site or library online resources, we can help! We can begin setting up access to your readings in advance of your course site or MacID being active.

• The library helps reduce your workload in preparing your course by securing access to items in your reading list.
• eReserves alleviates costs to students and provides equitable access to resources. eReserves are always free to students and instructors.
• The eReserves reading list integrates with Avenue to Learn, so students have everything they need in one place.
• eReserves are easily edited, allowing you to submit early and make changes later.
• No hard deadlines - we'll prioritize having your readings ready in advance of the lecture.
• Our system saves past course info, letting us reactivate your readings instantly.

For resources to support courses in the Faculty of Health Sciences, find more information about Course Reserves on the Health Sciences Library site or contact the Health Sciences Library.

We have transitioned the majority of courseware over to the eReserves program. Printed courseware is no longer available for the majority of courses. If you have previously discussed an exception with the Campus Store, please contact courseadoptions@mcmaster.ca. 

Please contact our Library Accessibility Services department at liblas@mcmaster.ca for more information.

We'd be happy to help further! Get in touch at ereserve@mcmaster.ca