About in-library Reserves


For faculty looking for information about how to place items on reserves, see page

Materials kept on reserve typically consist of required readings assigned by faculty to their classes, in addition to some other materials that are in high demand, like phone chargers.

You will need a call number to get a textbook on reserve. Search for the title in OneSearch. You must have the call number on hand before requesting a book from the Reserves desk. If we have the book on reserve, it will be listed with a library location and call number in OneSearch like this:

 Available at John Jay Reserve Room - 3-hour loan JC578 .R38 1999b

Bring the call number to the Reserve Desk, located in the Reserve Room on the lower floor in the south wing of the library. 

Checking out in-library reserve materials
  • Reserve materials may be checked out to patrons with a currently validated John Jay College or CUNY ID card with a library barcode.
  • Reserve books, book/CD sets, DVDs and CDs may only be borrowed one item at a time. However, patrons may also simultaneously borrow necessary additional items such as calculators, device chargers, and group study room accessories.
  • Three-hour reserve loans cannot leave the library.
Loan periods & fines
  • Loan periods for reserve items are generally 3 hours. Very few items may have been given a longer loan period of 1 day, 3 days, or 7 days. Reserve items may not be renewed.
  • The overdue fine for Reserve material is $6.00 per hour for 3 hour loans and $1.00/day for 1 day, 3 day, or 7 day loans. Fines accumulate up to the replacement cost of the material.
  • Please note that 3-hour Reserve loan items are due prior to the Library's closing hours (during 24-hour period, for instance, items must be returned before closing of the Circulation and Reserves Desks). Be sure that a staff member checks items back in so that you are not charged a late fee.

About eReserves

The eReserves (Electronic Reserves) system gives students access to course readings from any computer connected to the Internet. Materials on eReserve might include such documents as syllabi, book chapters, journal, newspaper articles, and web site links.

Access to course readings is restricted to students registered for that class. Not all classes have course materials on eReserve, and not all class readings are on eReserve. Class textbooks, for example, are not available on eReserve but must be purchased by the student or possibly borrowed from the in-library reserves collection.

To access materials on eReserve:

  • Go to eReserves (opens in a new page)
  • Click on RESERVE READINGS
  • Type professor's last name; click Search.
  • Click on the appropriate course number.
  • Enter the password in lowercase letters (given to students by their professor).
  • You should now see the list of readings.

Some readings will bring you to an article in a library database or to a website. Some readings will be in Adobe Acrobat file format (PDF file). To open PDF files, you must have PDF reader software installed on your computer. Adobe Acrobat reader software can be downloaded free from the Adobe website.

More help with finding course readings »