Use this article when you need to request eReserves for course materials. It explains how eReserves work in Canvas, what information to send to the Reserves Office, when to submit requests, and how to reuse materials in a future term.
Overview of eReserves
eReserves, or electronic reserves, provide enrolled students with access to course materials in a stable online environment. They are commonly used in online courses, but they can also support in-person, hybrid, and blended courses that need to provide digital access to readings, articles, book chapters, videos, or other course resources.
At Johns Hopkins University, eReserves is a tool integrated with Canvas and can be used to provide access to course materials through the course menu.
When to Use eReserves
Use eReserves when your course includes resources that need library review, permissions, licensing support, or stable access through the library. This may include:
- Journal articles
- Book chapters
- eBooks that are not available through the JHU eBook database
- Organization or professional association reports that require membership for access
- Videos that fall outside fair use guidelines
- Materials that may require copyright permission or library licensing review
The Reserves Office can help determine whether a resource should be added to eReserves, linked directly in Canvas, or handled another way.
For guidance about copyright, fair use, book chapter limits, textbook materials, and video use, see Best Practices Guidelines: eReserves and Canvas.
Accessing eReserves
Students and instructors can access eReserves through the course menu in Canvas. Users enrolled in the course can also access eReserves directly through the JHU eReserves system at ares.library.jhu.edu/shib.
Firefox and Chrome are the recommended browsers for accessing eReserves.
If you or your students have trouble accessing eReserves, refer to the Reserves Office eReserve Access Guidelines or contact reserves@jhu.edu.
Submitting an eReserves Request
You can submit an eReserves request by email, reserves@jhu.edu, or by using the Reserves Office request form.
To submit a request, gather the list of resources you want to use in the course and include as much citation information as possible for each item. Complete citation information helps the Reserves Office locate resources, confirm permissions, and prepare the eReserves page more efficiently.
Include the following course information in your request:
- Course ID
- Term
- Instructor name
- Each course section that needs access
- Module, week, or date when each resource is needed, if applicable
- Whether the materials should be saved for use in a future term
Include the following resource information when available:
- Books: Author, title, publisher, edition, publication date, and translator or editor, if applicable.
- Journal articles: Author, article title, journal title, publication year or volume number, and page numbers, if available.
- Films or videos: Title, director, distributor, format preference, and whether you prefer a subtitled version for international films.
Send email requests to reserves@jhu.edu. You can also use the eReserve Request Email Template to structure your message to the Reserves Office.
Important: If your course has multiple sections, including merged Canvas sections, list every section that needs access. eReserves sections are not merged automatically when Canvas sections are merged.
Request Deadlines
Submit eReserves requests before the deadline posted on the Reserves Office website. These deadlines are usually 4–6 weeks before the start of the term.
Requests submitted after the deadline are prioritized by the date the materials are needed by students. Include the module, week, or assignment date for each resource when possible so the Reserves Office can prioritize time-sensitive materials.
If the Reserves Office has trouble locating a resource or obtaining permission, they will notify the instructor.
Reusing eReserves in a New Term
To reuse the same eReserves materials from a previous term, email reserves@jhu.edu and ask the Reserves Office to reinstate the resources for the new term.
In your message, include:
- New course term
- Course ID
- Instructor name
- The previous term the Reserves Office should reference
- Any resources that should be added, removed, or updated
- Each course section that needs access
Reserve lists are routinely disassembled at the end of each term to make room for upcoming courses. If you want the current materials retained for a future term, tell the Reserves Office when you submit the original request or before the end of the current term.
Note: Materials retained from the fall term for spring are not automatically available during intersession. Contact the Reserves Office if students need intersession access.
Get Help with eReserves
For questions about eReserves requests, access issues, resource availability, or Reserves Office policies, contact the Reserves Office at reserves@jhu.edu.
You can also use the Library Help & Support page for additional support.