Course Reserves

Physical Reserves

UMA Libraries offer faculty the option of placing items on reserve behind the circulation desks at Katz and Nottage Libraries for students to access. Items include books, photocopies, DVDs, and more. These items could be from the library collections or from your personal collection. For physical reserves in Augusta and Bangor, complete a reserve request form. Course reserves run semester-by-semester. At the end of a semester, UMA Libraries staff will ask if you need the materials kept on reserve for the following semester.

Some general guidelines for placing materials on reserve:

  • Due to copyright restrictions, digitizing textbooks and other physical course books is limited. We may be able to scan a limited amount of a textbook for students who haven't yet purchased or received their copy. Note: you may be asked to complete a Fair Use Checklist (note: download it first to fill it out) when submitting your request for e-reserves. For more information about Copyright, Fair Use, and the TEACH Act, check out our Copyright guide.
  • Items must be relevant to course content and curriculum.
  • Items are not available in quantity.
  • Reference materials may not be placed on reserve.
  • Items from other libraries may not be placed on reserve.
  • Copies from personal collections will be processed with barcodes.
  • Items of two pages or fewer should be provided in class or in Brightspace.
  • The library is not responsible for damaged or lost personal items.

Electronic Reserves (E-Reserves)

Librarians can assist faculty with adding electronic reserves in Brightspace courses. We support faculty in ensuring course materials meet accessibility standards and comply with copyright guidelines in Brightspace. Librarians provide guidance on integrating library resources effectively, prioritizing accessible formats like HTML over PDFs whenever possible. When linking to articles and ebooks, librarians help faculty use stable permalinks, include proper citations, and verify accessibility with tools like Ally and the Accessibility Checker. For streaming films, they ensure that faculty use reliable links, confirm off-campus access, and embed videos when supported. While PDFs may sometimes be necessary, librarians encourage the use of more accessible alternatives such as MS Word or Google Docs. When PDFs must be used, they assist faculty in making them compliant by running accessibility checks, adding alt text, structuring documents properly, and ensuring compatibility with screen readers. Every effort will be made to see that materials added by librarians to the Library Resources module are accessible for student use. Materials must be copyright-cleared and submitted four weeks before the beginning of the semester. Staff will aim to process physical reserve materials within 24 hours of your request. 

For information about adding materials to Brightspace, please contact a librarian:

Best Practices

✔ Prioritize Accessibility – Always choose the most accessible format (e.g., HTML over PDF).
✔ Use Clear Titles – Help students quickly identify content.
✔ Ensure Consistency – Follow a structured format for ease of navigation.
✔ Stay Up to Date – Regularly review UMA’s accessibility guidelines and attend training.

Accessibility & Compliance

  • Ensure course materials meet WCAG 2.1 standards, including:
  • Proper heading structures
  • Alt text for images
  • Sufficient color contrast
  • Screen reader compatibility
  • Keyboard navigation support

For more details, explore UMA’s Accessibility Resources or enroll in the ACCESS Course.