The Course Reserve collection helps reduce textbook costs to students, including those in online classes, by having textbooks and other physical course materials available for short term use.
Books and items on Reserve are loaned out for 2-hours, 2-days or 7-days. Items with a 2-hour loan period may not leave the library.

Finding Reserve Materials

Loan policies and Overdue Fees »

Professors and teaching staff may place materials on Reserve for their courses. They can be found at the Equipment and Reserve Services desk.

You can also use Search@UW to search the title or course number and find if Reserve materials are available for your class. If searching from the Library’s homepage, either limit the search scope to Course Reserve or filter the results to the ‘Reserve’ location.

Models on Reserve

There are several Models on Reserve available for 2 hour loan: Including a brain, skull, heart, human torso and an Inorganic/Organic Chemistry kit.

Donate Textbooks to the Library

Equipment and Reserve Services accepts donations of textbooks to help other students.  Please include the instructor name and course number that the book was used in and a copy of the Donation Form. Donations can be dropped off at the Equipment & Reserve desk on the Lower Level West.

What can be put on Course Reserve?
Books, DVDs, CDs, models and other physical items. Bound coursepacks can be placed on Reserve as long as they were created by a commercial copy center.  Individual photocopied articles cannot be placed on Reserve.

Only materials owned by instructors, departments, or the UWM Libraries, including the Waukesha and Washington Co. campuses, may be placed on Reserve. We are not able to place items owned by other libraries on Reserve.

E-books and e-Journals can be added directly in your Canvas class page. Additional resources for finding materials are below.

Textbook Affordability resources and consultation information are available for instructors looking to reduce costs for their students.

How are items added to Course Reserve?
If UWM Libraries or the instructor/department already own the item, use the Reserve Materials Request Form. Multiple items can be added at the same time. Use the ‘+’ button at the end of the row to add more items.

Faculty or departmental copies of books or Media can be dropped off at Equipment and Reserve Services or sent via campus mail.  Please include the professor’s name and course #.

If you would like UWM Libraries to purchase an item for reserve, use the Purchase Recommendation Form and fill in the Course Reserve section.

Resources for find materials that can be used in Canvas