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Course Reserves

Course reserves are compilations of recommended literature and documents related to courses that lecturers provide for their students. These can be set up for one semester, either digitally in Moodle or physically in one of the branch libraries of the TUM University Library.

Using Course Reserves

Lecturers can create course reserves for their students. These include recommended literature and materials tailored to selected courses. Once set up, students can access them either in the branch libraries or in Moodle.

  • Physical course reserves are located on designated shelves in the branch libraries – simply ask at the circulation desk. Materials from course reserves cannot be borrowed. However, all branch libraries offer the option to scan small portions of the works free of charge.
  • Digital course reserves are available in Moodle, the TUM learning platform, directly within the respective courses. This allows students to access recommended materials anytime, anywhere.

Setting Up Physical Course Reserves

Lecturers at TUM can request a course reserve in the branch library of their choice. The course reserve is available for on-site use and for scanning materials. The following items from the University Library’s holdings can be included:

  • Books (one copy per edition can be provided)
  • Individual book chapters
  • Articles from books
  • Papers from journals or conference proceedings

Additionally:

  • Books and other materials from personal collections can also be included.
    Please ensure compliance with copyright regulations.

Instructions for Setting Up a Physical Course Reserve

To request or modify a physical course reserve, please provide all relevant information related to your planned course reserve:

  1. Compile a title list: Please use the Excel template provided by the University Library, or submit an export file from a reference management program (e.g., Citavi, EndNote, Zotero), or your saved list from the TUM OPAC. Alternatively, you may collect the materials yourself in the branch library and hand them in at the circulation desk. In any case, please complete the top section of the Excel template, even if you leave the title fields blank.
  2. Send the Excel template, and if applicable, the separate title list by email:

Send Course Reserve Request

The library staff will place the materials in specially marked shelves in the branch library of your choice and record them in the library system under course reserve accounts. You will then receive a confirmation email with the access details for your course reserve in the TUM OPAC.

Please note:

  • If required books are currently on loan, they will be recalled after the loan period and added to your course reserve later.
  • Items ordered via interlibrary loan cannot be included in course reserves.
  • Items not owned by the library will be labeled with a security tag. However, the library assumes no liability for these items. This also applies to folders and other materials.
  • Items in course reserves are generally not available for loan.
  • If you wish to add or remove materials during the semester, please complete the Excel template again and email it to us.
  • The course reserve will be dissolved by the end of the semester.

Setting Up Digital Course Reserves

As a lecturer at TUM, you can add a digital course reserve (DigiSem) to any Moodle course. In this digital reserve, you can provide scans of printed materials from the University Library’s holdings. The library will scan for you:

  • Up to 15% of books
  • Papers from academic journals or specialist periodicals

Instructions for Setting Up a Digital Course Reserve

To create a digital course reserve in Moodle and request scans, select the “Digital Course Reserve” option under “Course Materials” in Moodle and then search in the TUM OPAC. With just a few clicks, you can transfer the order data to Moodle:

  1. In the availability tab, click “Order paper/chapter scan.”
  2. In SFX, select Send this record to the digital reading list (Moodle)”
  3. You will be redirected to Moodle (log in if necessary).
  4. Under “New digitization request,” select your course.
  5. Assign a name to your course reserve.
  6. Complete the mandatory fields for your order (e.g., page numbers or chapter title).

Your digitization request will now be transmitted from Moodle to the library. Our digitization team will scan the requested materials, and the resulting files will be uploaded to your Moodle course.

Please ensure compliance with copyright regulations.

E-Media in Course Reserves

E-books and other digital resources can be integrated directly into Moodle using the “Link/URL” function. They are not part of a digital course reserve. Please note that students often access materials from outside the TUM network or through wireless LAN. To prevent issues with publisher paywalls, proceed as follows:

Support

If you have any questions about using or setting up course reserves, please contact us:

information@ub.tum.de