The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes which affect our physical course reserves services as on campus classes resume. To keep library patrons and staff safe, the Libraries’ policy is to quarantine all materials that have been used for 72 hours, as recommended by the CDC and IMLS, who are performing studies determining how long the virus is detectable on various library materials. We will still offer a physical reserves option, but the quick turnaround of one copy for multiple users will no longer be possible, and therefore reduce the benefit of using physical Course Reserves.

All physical Course Reserves materials will be quarantined after each use for 72 hours with no exceptions.

Some strategies faculty and the Libraries should use to mitigate the need for physical Course Reserves during the pandemic are included below. For help with any of these services, find contact info for course materials staff at our different libraries.

1. Choose an alternative reading or video from our electronic and streaming collections. Your subject liaison librarian can help.
2. If we can buy an electronic version of the title requested, we will and will offer that instead of the physical version.
3. For books, if only a fair use portion of the work would suffice, we will digitize that portion instead of checking out the material. This will not apply to videos or audio. Contact the Head of the Music & Media Collections for help cbadillame@sthomas.edu with questions about media.
4. If the material is in print and available for purchase, students should be encouraged to purchase their own copy.
5. Instructor personal copies can be added as additional copies available for checkout.
6. Our Course Materials staff are available to work with you to create a Resource List with electronic materials and make it available in your Canvas course.