On behalf of a team that includes Roshnara Kissoon, Monique Prince, Mike Waldman, and Holly Dowell, I’d like to announce important changes to e-reserves and the course reserves system overall.
E-Reserves
- As of this summer, we no longer use Docutek to host e-reserves. We’ve switched to the e-reserves module in LibGuides.
- There are still course passwords for each course page. Unlike the old system, you can get to the e-reserves home page (the listing of courses, instructors, etc.) without having to log in with a Baruch username and password. Once you click on a course listing, you’re prompted for a course password (the professors should have provided these to students). Once you are viewing the list of items on a page and have tried to click an item, you’ll be prompted to log in with your Baruch username and password (if you’re off campus).
- The link on the yellow search bar for “Reserves” no longer goes directly to the e-reserves system but instead to the redesigned Course Reserves page on the library website.
- Based on usability testing we did in May, we customized the default design to streamline access to content and to make the navigation more comprehensible.
Redesigned Course Reserves Page
- From usability tests conducted on the search bar system in November/December 2015 and again in March 2016, we realized that users were confused by the way the website had presented e-reserves and reserves for physical items (books, CDs, DVDs, etc.) in separate systems. We redesigned the existing course reserves page (and then tested it in May) so that it would be the landing page for anyone looking for materials on reserves regardless of format.
- To find physical items on reserve, we’ll be using the Reserves module in OneSearch (the button on the course reserves page will lead you directly there). Start your search there for books, CDs, etc. that have been placed on reserve (it’s the only place to find instructor’s copies). It’s worth knowing that there is a 48-hour delay between the time when the Access Services staff first adds an item to OneSearch’s reserves module and when it is actually findable by users.
If you have any questions about the course reserves system and service, please contact Roshnara Kissoon ([email protected] or x1669) or Monique Prince.