1. Course Reserves in Alma
Ben Lawrence, Chris Morris, and Kell Carpenter

2. Voyager, We Hardly Knew Ye
Transitioning course reserves from Voyager to Alma entailed significant changes to workflows
Guidance from Ex Libris did not provide a direct bridge for workflows
A year out from the transition, we have developed best practices, workarounds, and tricks for navigating the course reserves process

3. What We Will Cover Today
Creating course reserves
Adding readings to course reserves
Searching for course reserves
Removing course reserves

4. Creating Course Reserves

5. Getting Started: The Course versus the Reading List
In Alma, a course and a reading list are distinct
Course - the actual course reserves, including the course information
Reading List - the citations for the course reserves, loan period, and access details

6. Best Practices for Creating a Course
Establish a naming convention for course codes and stick to it
Use registrar title for course name
Instructor titles can be entered in Searchable IDs
Include academic department to facilitate easy searching
Mark the term
Set Due Back Date to end of semester
Consider Searchable IDs
Cross-listings, graduate sections, and instructor titles
Add the Instructor

7. Best Practices for Creating a Reading List
Match Course Code to course information
Leave status as Being Prepared for time being
Match Course Name to course information
Clear Due Back Date
Due Back Date will populate pick from shelf

8. Adding Readings to Course Reserves

9. Adding Repository Items, What Ex Libris Recommends: Too Many Clicks
Add Citation
Add Repository Item
Repository Search
Select Item
Click Select
Set to Complete

10. Adding Repository Items, An Easier Way
Scan-In Items
Change Item Information
Temporary Change Type
Leave Due Back Date blank
Set Location to your library’s reserve location
Set Item Policy to reserves loan period
Select the Reading List that you previously created
Scan away!

11. Adding Instructor Copies, What Ex Libris Recommends
Add Physical Item
Complete bibliographic information
Potential problems for cataloging department

12. Adding Instructor Copies, An Easier Way
In Reading List, Add Citation
Add Brief, Physical Book
Limited bibliographic information
Mark as reserves item in title
Check with your cataloging department
Institutional level, course restricted

13. Adding E-Readings, What Ex Libris Recommends
Buy Leganto

14. Adding E-Readings, An Easier Way
In Reading List, Add Citation
Add Brief, Electronic Article
Limited bibliographic information required
Easy editing in case of mistakes
Institutional level, course restricted
Indicate copyright status

15. Adding E-Readings, ARES
E-Reserve system provided by Atlas
Instructors provide us with scanned copies of their readings, reserves staff uploads them to the professor's course in Ares and creates a unique password to provide to the professor
Students access their readings by following a link to the Ares login provided on our library website and using the unique course password their professor gave them
Easy for staff to recreate and clone courses
Sometimes confusing for students to know when to use their password or the unique course password (even after instructions are provided)

16. Adding E-Readings, LibGuides
LibGuides - part of SpringShare library software products
Instructor provides “Wish list” of articles requested to use as assigned readings, course number/name/section, and number of students in the course
Library faculty/staff secure permission to use requested articles and create LibGuide as hosted landing page for list of e-Reserve readings
Options for delivery/access/security:
LibGuide can be password protected
LibGuide can be embedded in instructor’s course page in Georgia View
Requires advance planning/collaboration with instructor(s)
Permission must be secured for *each semester* (can’t re-use without securing permission)
Question of cost for securing permission: who pays for securing copyright permissions?

17. Searching for Course Reserves

18. Searching in Primo Course Code Naming convention Course Name
Must be exact
Instructor Name
Searchable IDs

19. Searching in Alma Searchable by same parameters as in Primo
Limit by term, academic department, and status
Sort by active date

20. Removing Course Reserves

21. Returning Physical Items to the Stacks
Scan-In Items
Change Item Information
Set Change Type to restore
Scan away!

22. Saving the Reading List
Do not remove items from the list
Remove the associated course from the reading list
Saves Reading List for future use

23. Deleting the Course Select course in manifest
Dropdown menu to delete course
Clears old lists from manifest for easier searching
Reading list retained for potential reactivation

24. Questions