What Are Reserves?

If books or readings are in high demand for a course, the course instructor may ask the Libraries to temporarily remove them from their regular locations and set them aside for class use, usually at a Circulation Desk, or to make them accessible electronically.

There are 2 kinds of reserves:

Reserves (hard copy) are books and copies of readings. They can also include past exams.

Reserves can be searched in BISON, either by the course number or the instructor's name (last name first). You will have to ask the staff at the Circulation desk to get the Reserve item for you by giving them the location number as shown in BISON. You must have your student ID card and the call number of the material with you when you pick up reserve materials. You will only be able to use the material for a very limited amount of time.

E-Reservesare electronic copies of readings which are held in a searchable database, which is separate from BISON. The readings in EReserves are accessible only to UM students.

E-Reserves can be searched by the instructor’s name, the course number, the department, or the title and author of the readings. Sometimes E-Reserves require a password, which your instructor will give you. Library staff do not have access to E-Reserve passwords for individual classes.

Key Resources
How to Find Reserves Tutorial
How to Find EReserves Tutorial
Reserves and E-Reserves Information
Libraries E-reserves web site
Chat with a Librarian