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Course Reserves

Frequently Asked Questions About Course Reserves


Problem accessing e-books, online articles, or streaming media?

  • Check the link is correct.
  • Clear browser's cache, cookies, and browsing history. You may have to uninstall and reinstall the browser.
  • Works best on Chrome and Firefox.
  • Publishers may have removed the e-book titles.
  • Some e-books have limited user license and it may be in use.  Try again later or place a hold if possible.
  • Streamed media may have expired.

Physical materials from these collections may NOT be placed on Reserves:

  • Hawaiian / Pacific Collections
  • Charlot and all special collections
  • JABSOM Library
  • Periodicals and reference materials
  • Inter-Library Loan
  • UH Systems Library

Make arrangements directly with these departments and inform students that items must be used at their respective locations.

Can I take out more than one reserve item at a time?
No, except at the discretion of the faculty.

Can I take reserve items out of the library?
Yes, unless it is designated as Library Use Only.

If Hamilton Library is open 24 hours, can I check out reserves whenever I want to?

  • All of the closed reserves are located at Hamilton Library Circulation Desk and can only be checked out during business hours.
  • Electronic and streaming reserves are always available wherever there is internet access. 

How long can I have it?

  • The loan period is designated by the faculty and ranges from 2 hours to 7 days. 
  • Overnight loans for hourly reserve items are possible from 2 hours before the Hamilton Library Circulation Desk closes and at the discretion of the faculty.

Can I re-borrow reserve items?

  • Reserve items may be re-borrowed 15 minutes after the item is returned, or immediately if another copy is available. Cannot be re-borrowed less than 15 minutes before closing.
  • Reserve items cannot be renewed online.

Can I place a hold or a recall on a reserve item?
No, the system will not allow this.

Where can I return a reserve item?

  • At Hamilton Library Circulation Desk and give it to an attendant. 
  • When the building is closed, please drop it in the outside book drop.

If I'm trying to access an electronic course reserve and I don't know what my UH username and password are, what should I do?

  • Your UH username is the first part of your UH email address and your password is the same as when you are logging into e-mail account.
  • The password can be reset by an ITS lab attendant in the CLIC computer labs located in Hamilton and Sinclair Libraries.

Are there any restrictions to the streaming media?

  • Affiliated UHM users have unlimited access to available streaming media.
  • Access with your active UHM user login information.
  • Faculty may request a digitization of a physical media item for their class available through Laulima.
    • UHM Library or you must own the legally obtained video(s).
    • This may only be accepted if it is for a active class.
    • Only the students enrolled may access the streaming video.
    • Must be directly related to the course study and not for student work outside of class or for extra credit.

Can I request Subtitles or Captions for my digitization request?

  • License purchases: captions and subtitles cannot be altered or added due to digital rights restrictions. Subtitles may be available from subscription services. 
  • Digitized media: Subtitles and captions will be added to videos, when available. For special accommodations, please email avreserv@hawaii.edu. 

When will the streaming links be available for my class?

  • The links will activate within the first few days of the new semester.
  • During the semester we will try to provide the active links as soon as we receive them.

Can a film from a commercial streaming vendors (Netflix, Disney+, etc.) be put on reserves?

  • No, these kind of vendors do not offer an educational library license. Which UHM requires per copyright laws.
  • If a video is already available from these vendors, we will not digitize the video.