If there is a physical resource (such as a book, DVD, or CD) that is not the required textbook that you would like your students to be able to access, request the item to be added to the library's Course Reserves. Course reserves are generally in-library use only, so students must come to the library to read (or view/listen to) the resource.
Course reserves are great options for:
Instructors can also borrow items from course reserves for use during class. For example, you may want to watch a clip from a DVD in class then return it to the library's course reserves so students who missed class (or who want to review material) can view it at the library.
At this time, the library is not able to purchase every textbook for every course offered at CSM. However, we do accept and appreciate donations or lending of personal copies! Students appreciate this option--especially if the textbook is fairly expensive, the bookstore experiences backorder or supply chain issues (delaying when students receive the book they purchased), or students have free time between classes and want to get ahead on their reading without lugging their personal copy around.
If your department is able to purchase extra copies (or acquire additional instructor review copies), we are happy to add these to our Course Reserves. Please contact the library at library@csmd.edu for more information.
Consider filling in some of the gaps by using library resources, such as e-books and articles.
Licensed e-books, online magazines & journals, streaming media, and other online resources available through the CSM Library subscriptions (i.e. ProQuest, EBSCO, Gale, etc.) are not considered Open Educational Resources. These resources are restricted to CSM students, faculty and staff, and they are already-licensed materials that do not allow for customization and re-use or redistribution the same way as OERs.
Although library online resources are not "open", they are considered "alternative educational resources" (AER) that you can take advantage of and make available at no cost to your students. Library resources are also sometimes referred to as LER, which stands for licensed/library educational resources.
AER = alternative educational resources
LER = licensed/library educational resources
OER = open educational resources
For more information about finding, modifying, and using OERs, check out the OER library guide:
If you would like to add specific articles or book chapters from the databases to the assigned reading for a course, you can add a specific type of link into your syllabus, class schedule, or course shell to allow students to access the source.
Any links to database sources need to fit two criteria:
If the link you copied from the database does not include "exproxy.csmd.edu/login" anywhere in the link, you will need to add the following proxy prefix BEFORE the database link:
https://ezproxy.csmd.edu/login?url=
Stable URLs
These links can be found for sources in each of the library databases, but may be called something different by each database provider.
Click "All Options" to see and copy the permanent link.
Click "Permalink" (under "Tools" on the right side of the page) then copy the link that appears above the article title.
Click "Get Link" (at the top of the page below the header image) and copy the link.
After selecting your source, click "Page Link" (at the top of the page) and copy the link.
Click the "+" icon (at the top of the page on the right, above the title) and select "More."
This will open options for sharing, with the link at the top of the box.
Click "Embed/Link" (towards the top of the page, underneath the title) then copy the record URL, or you can copy the embed code to add to MyLearning.
