Answered By: Sarah Griffis
Last Updated: Apr 20, 2017     Views: 38

Sawyer Library works to make sure at least one copy of each required text ends up in the Reserve collection. Usually, a given title is unavailable because it has been checked out.

However, sometimes material is not available on the shelf for the following reasons:

  • It is not a required text. The Reserve Collection contains books that faculty have indicated are required for their courses.  Additional items may be placed on reserve at the request of a Faculty member.
  • It is not yet available at the Suffolk Bookstore.Sawyer library receives all of its Reserve texts from the bookstore. If the bookstore does not have it, it is unlikely the library will either.
  • It is being processed. New materials must be cataloged and processed before they are available for borrowing. Please check back a day or so.
  • The bookstore has not informed the library of the book’s required status yet. Starting about a month before the first day of class, the bookstore sends the library lists of what materials are required for each course for the coming semester. This process takes weeks and while both the library and the bookstore strive to make sure everything is available on the first day of class, this is not always possible.
  • The library owns the book, but it was checked out before the library learned that it should be on Reserve. It is not uncommon for students to learn what texts are required for their course before the library. Sawyer Library asks that these students, rather than checking out the book for themselves, notify the library so we can make sure it is available to everyone. Checked out books needed for Reserve will be recalled. Students failing to return recalled Reserve books may lose access to Reserves, library laptops, and group study rooms in addition to fines until the materials are returned. If you see a classmate that has a library-owned copy of a book required for your class outside of the library, consider asking them to return it so it can be made available to all the students in your class.

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