E-Reserve
Ryerson Library Ares System Pilot - May 2011
The Ryerson University Library has started using the Ares System for managing electronic course readings (e-reserve) in Blackboard. Seamlessly linked with Blackboard course shells, the new system offers benefits not available previously, using the course management system alone. These benefits include:
- More control over your own electronic course readings. You are encouraged to create and manage your course items but may continue to seek assistance from Library staff to create readings on your behalf ( reserve@ryerson.ca)
- The ability to organize course readings in multiple ways (by topic, week, etc.) using tags.
- A way for you to check processing status of your request yourself; no email or phone necessary.
- Usage statistics of each of your readings.
What is similar:
- Ask DMP courses@ryerson.ca or DE dehelp@ryerson.ca to add the Library to your Blackboard course(s) as both builder (reserve_01) and student (ds_library)
- You can continue to submit requests to the Library through email at reserve@ryerson.ca, although you have the option to create your own on the Ares system.
- Your email list must contain the following details:
- Course Information
- Course Code/ Course Name
- Section codes (if applicable)
- Instructor name(s)
- Department
- Anticipated enrolment
- Duration of the course/number of times it will run during the current academic year
- If the course is run through DE (i.e. Ektron)
- Full bibliographic citations for each reading.
- Author name
- Article or chapter name
- Name of journal or source book
- Date of publication and/or volume and issue
- Page range used
- Publisher name (for book chapters)
- ISSN or ISBN (if you have it)
- How you would like the readings organized - i.e. into topical or weekly subfolders
- Instructor created requests using the Ares system will still go into Library staff work queue so that staff can ensure links are durable and function for remote access.
- If copyright permission from publishers is required, Library staff will take care of the procedure. The process takes time and may cost money. The Library will not proceed if the copyright fees are too high.
- If you re-use course readings from term to term, you must contact us at reserve@ryerson.ca each time. You do not need to re-submit your request. We will update your links and set new permissions for access.
- Scanned files are removed at the end of each term when copyright permissions of documents (e.g. pdfs) expire. Please notify reserve@ryerson.ca ahead of time if you want to use the material again.
What is different, and better:
- You can create your own requests directly on the Ares system, using Instructor Tools to Add Course Reading Items to your class. You can also assign staff with TA or instructor status in Blackboard to Add Course Reading Items in Ares on your behalf.
- You do not need to wait for notification when the materials are in Blackboard. Your Instructor Tools in Ares allow you to look up the processing status any time on your Blackboard Course Readings page.
- You can organize course readings, your way. Tag and group materials by topics, weeks, etc.
- You can view student usage of each of your readings.
How to start using Ares
- Brief instructions on how to use Ares, with screenshots.
- Short tutorials ( less than 3 minutes each) on how to use Ares:
Where to go for Help
If you receive reports of trouble with your electronic course readings in Blackboard, the DMP or DE is usually the place to start to seek help.
- Scenario: "I click on the Course Readings link in Blackboard and see an error message"
- Cause: This is most likely a problem inside Blackboard
- Action: Email courses@ryerson.ca or dehelp@ryerson.ca and copy reserve@ryerson.ca so that we are aware of the issue
- Scenario: "Once I am inside Course Readings, I click on an article link and am asked to log in, pay for access, see a broken link or see completely the wrong article!"
- Cause: This is probably a problem with the link or the Library's database itself.
- Action: Email reserve@ryerson.ca
What your students need to know...
Students must have an active my.ryerson account and Adobe Acrobat Reader to use Course Readings in Blackboard.
If students have trouble accessing Course Readings, they should be directed to the CCS Help Desk at help@ryerson.ca or at ext 6840 (students).
Alternatively, if there seems to be a Library problem and not a Blackboard problem, the student should contact the Reference Desk by email refdesk@ryerson.ca, by phone 416-979-5055 Option 3 or in person.
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