Library E-Reserves Moves to Blackboard

In recent years, use of Syracuse University Library’s electronic course reserve service, commonly known as e-reserves, has dropped dramatically: total requests have decreased by 54 percent, and the number of faculty using e-reserves has decreased by 35 percent. The library’s research shows there are numerous reasons for the decline, including faculty’s widespread adoption and use of the Blackboard course management system for posting course readings and linking to library-licensed academic content and other materials.

For these reasons, the library is discontinuing its service of posting digital copies of articles and book chapters in Blackboard courses, and providing faculty the freedom to manage their own curricular content. This change will go into effect at the end of the spring 2013 semester.

For the foreseeable future, the library will continue managing both course reserves for print volumes and e-reserves exclusively for audio materials. The library has already redeployed staff formerly working on e-reserves to other popular faculty delivery services, such as Library to Go and Articles to Go, and has begun assisting the migration process for the remaining regular e-reserves users.

The library has developed detailed instructions for posting articles and other such items in Blackboard. Library subject specialists and the AskUs service are also available to assist faculty in making this transition. Most copyright questions are answered in the Copyright Guide. In addition, Online Learning Services offers support for faculty in their use of Blackboard and other technology tools.

For more information, contact Melinda Dermody at mdermo01@syr.edu.