We are working with instructors to explore and identify viable textbook alternatives:
Due to continuing concerns over Covid-19, the New York Institute of Technology Libraries will not be lending or checking out textbooks Course Reserves for the Summer 2021 semester.
We are offering to scan a limited number of book chapters if you require them for your class. Our usual limit is one chapter per title, but we will increase this to two or even three chapters, as long as the number of pages does not exceed 10% of the total work. This is due to copyright concerns. We cannot scan entire books.
Ebooks: During this time, if there is a book that you need for a class fill out this form. We will purchase that item in ebook format, if possible. Approximately 85% of existing course textbooks are simply unavailable to libraries in any other format than print. Textbook publishers have built their profit models around selling e-textbooks directly to students. Despite this, we also know that the cost of textbooks and other course materials represent a major financial hurdle for students at the New York Institute of Technology. More information about copyright and textbooks.
Library Resources: such as textbook chapters, as well as ebooks, articles, databases can be directly linked to your course material (Canvas, Blackboard, Google Drive) using a permalink. We recommend you Make an Appointment and work with a Librarian if you need assistance.
OER: We encourage you to adopt an Open Educational Resource (OER). OERs are freely available educational materials that are openly licensed to allow for re-use and modification. Using OERs ensures that students have free and unrestricted access to their course textbook on the first day of class.
What do I do if my materials are overdue?
Renewing your Items online
Print copies of textbooks and other print resources will continue to be placed on reserve and will be available for loan if the library building can be open to the public. However, as many courses will be offered in online formats and most students will not be physically on campus, borrowing print materials from the reserve collection may not be an option for students in your course. The library will attempt to purchase e-book versions of all print materials that are on reserve for your courses, however, this is often not possible due to publisher restrictions on selling e-textbooks to libraries.
Adopting an Open Educational Resource (OER). OERs are freely available educational materials that are openly licensed to allow for re-use and modification. Using OERs ensures that students have free and unrestricted access to their course textbook on the first day of class.
The librarians are working hard to provide alternative access to the print course reserves collection. A significant portion of the books on reserve are print copies of required textbooks, and students cannot access them without coming into the library. To support instructors and students over the next several months, we are developing new approaches to how we acquire course textbooks, to ensure that students have access, even in a primarily online, alternative delivery environment.
However, this work is hampered by textbook publishers who do not provide electronic purchasing options for libraries. Approximately 85% of existing course textbooks are simply unavailable to libraries in any other format than print. Textbook publishers have built their profit models around selling e-textbooks directly to students. Despite this, we also know that the cost of textbooks and other course materials represent a major financial hurdle for students at the New York Institute of Technology.
Despite the library’s commitment to make copies of all required textbooks and course materials available to assist those students who are unable to purchase their own, the following publishers will not allow us to purchase an e-textbook version of their publications:
This means that in courses that have adopted textbooks by these publishers, students who do not purchase the textbook will not have any alternative access to the textbook content.
Efforts will be made to secure online materials that are free from digital rights management restrictions (DRM) in order to ensure unfettered student access. DRM includes limits on the number of users that can access a resource at any one time, as well as limits on copying, printing and downloading.
Instructors who are reactivating courses for the summer 2021 semester will be contacted about any print materials on their lists so alternative options can be identified. Any instructors teaching a spring course should contact the library at any time for support with sourcing their course materials.
Email us at askalibrarian@nyit.edu.