Empowering Learning
Supporting accessible and affordable learning.
Discover more about e-Course Reserves, Open Educational Resources,
and some basic parameters regarding teaching materials and copyright.
Affordable Course Materials
Learn the basics of open education, open access publishing, and using open educational resources (OER) at Cal Poly. Find tools, tips, and support for incorporating open practices into your teaching and research.
Find Open Textbooks
Explore tools and strategies for finding high-quality open textbooks and other open educational resources (OER) to support teaching and learning at Cal Poly.
Teaching Materials and Copyright
Understand how copyright applies to course materials and explore best practices for using and sharing content legally and ethically in your teaching.
Explore Reserves
Course reserves are materials that instructors make available through the library for students to access easily and affordably. These can include textbooks, readings, films, or other required resources. The primary purpose of Course Reserves is to support student learning by providing equitable access to essential course materials.
Browse Available Course Reserves
Course Reserves Information for Students
Learn how to access course reserves at Kennedy Library, including where to find required materials, loan periods, and borrowing policies for textbooks and other items.
Course Reserves Information for Faculty
Why place materials on Course Reserves?
When faculty place electronic items on Course Reserves, faculty reduce financial stress on students. Electronic reserves are listed in a single Course Reserves module, giving students an easy access point for what is available to them.
Faculty can request currently licensed eBooks and other electronic materials for placement on course reserves. After identifying a Kennedy-licensed eBook or other electronic item in OneSearch, use Submit Faculty Course Reserves Form below and paste a OneSearch Permalink to the item in the “Special Instructions” box.
Faculty can request purchase of eBooks if the items are not found in OneSearch. To do so, use the Faculty Request to Purchase e-Materials for Course Reserves Form below. Note: all requests for electronic materials will be considered, but filling such requests is contingent on licensing and cost considerations.
Starting Spring 2025, Print Reserves are suspended until further notice.
Submit Faculty Course Reserves Form
Faculty Request to Purchase E-Materials for Course Reserves Forms