The UW Tacoma Library Textbook Pilot is over and we are happy to to say that going forward we have folded textbook purchasing fully into our reserve program! Our successful pilot received excellent feedback, and our reserves team was recognized with the Team of the Year award by the Staff Association for their hard work!
Each academic year we will order all textbooks $75 and over and place them on reserve at the TLB desk. We started ordering for Autumn Quarter during the summer interim, so some textbooks already available on the reserves shelves, while others are still on their way to us. The best way to know if your textbook is here is to check the library catalog.
*Important Note* – less than $75
Textbooks that cost less than $75 can be placed on reserve, but must be requested – just fill out our purchase form and indicate it is for course reserve.
What do students need to know about the Textbook Program?
Textbooks are first come, first serve, and we do not allow waitlists or holds on these books. You can borrow a textbook for up to 4 hours. If you check out a textbook within 4 hours of closing, you can keep it overnight, but it will be due back first thing the next day. Textbooks can leave the library, but you are responsible for returning them on time, and in good condition.
If your textbook costs less than $75 you don’t have to wait for your instructor to order it. You can order it yourself with our purchase request form.
Reserves are fined on a different schedule than other books, with fines accruing hourly. You can view our complete fine schedule on the UW Libraries homepage. Textbooks are ‘Reserve Loans of less than three days’ on this schedule: http://www.lib.washington.edu/services/borrow/fines
What do instructors need to know about the Textbook Program?
The Library purchases one copy of all course textbooks priced at $75 or more automatically – you don’t need to do anything to have these books placed on reserve besides submit your request to the Bookstore. Textbooks will check out for 4 hours, and like all reserves, will be available on a first come, first serve basis. If a course has more than 4 sections, we will purchase two copies of the textbooks. If you wish to have more copies on reserve, you are welcome to bring us a personal copy, and we will place that on reserve.
Textbooks that cost less than $75 can be placed on reserve, but must be requested – just fill out our purchase form and indicate it is for course reserve.
We have an Instructor’s Guide to Course Reserves on our website, and we are always happy to hear from you at our email: tacres@uw.edu.