ARES has three deadlines that every instructor should keep in mind when submitting requests:
Submitting Electronic Reserves Requests
We experience a high volume of requests at the beginning of each semester so please note the following information as you plan your needs for course reserves.
Instructors can check the status of a request logging into ARES, clicking on their course, and viewing the far-right column under "Status". Statuses include:
Submitting both requests and paper copies to be scanned well ahead of the reading date is strongly recommended.
Submitting Physical Reserves Requests
As with electronic reserves, we also experience a high volume of physical reserve requests at the beginning of each semester so please note the following information as you plan your needs for course reserves.
Instructors can check the status of a request logging into ARES, clicking on their course, and viewing the far-right column under "Status". Statuses include:
First Day to Submit Requests for a new semester
The first day to submit requests for Fall, Spring, and Summer classes depends on the following schedule:
Fall: Last Friday in March
Spring: Last Friday in October of the previous year
Summer: Last Friday in February
For example, the first day to submit a request for Spring 2020 will be Oct. 25, 2019. The first day to submit a request for Fall 2019 will be March 29, 2019. You will not be able to add requests or classes for future semesters if the schedule above is not active. For example, a Fall 2020 class or request can not be added on Ares since the first day to submit a request is March 27, 2020.
Request to Purchase a book/DVD for Reserves
If your reserves request for a book or DVD is not currently owned by any USC Libraries, you may submit it to be considered for purchase to be added to our collection. It will then be placed on reserves upon receipt. The request must be first entered into ARES with the option Please consider this for purchase selected on the form. The request to purchase will then be reviewed and forwarded to a librarian. Please note that many factors are involved in purchasing an item for reserve such as availability, cost, and subject. The librarian will ultimately decide whether or not to purchase the item and the instructor will be notified, via e-mail, regarding the decision and timetable for its availability. Please note that textbooks do not qualify for purchase since the libraries do not purchase textbooks for it's library collection. If a book/DVD is approved it will first be cataloged and then placed on reserve for the semester assigned. At the end of the semester the item will be integrated into the library's collection.
In order to submit a request-to-purchase in a timely matter (particularly orders coming from abroad) please note the following timetable:
Reserve requests for purchase need to be allotted sufficient time to process, purchase, catalog, and added to the reserve shelf. All efforts will be made to purchase requested items, but the above timeline is strongly suggested. If you have any questions please contact IDD at idd@usc.edu.
Streaming Media Requests
Streaming requests for movies and documentaries are now available through ARES by submitting requests through the Streaming Video (if available) icon. If USC owns streaming rights a link will be posted on the ARES record for students to stream. If not available, the title will be searched in the Leavey's DVD hard copy collection and placed, with the instructor's permission, on reserve at Leavey Reserves. Titles not available for streaming or owned by Leavey's DVD collection will be considered for purchase and added to the DVD collection, if approved by a librarian. Purchase of a DVD will take four to six weeks to be cataloged and processed by the Leavey reserve staff and made available to students. Please note, USC does not have or provide subscription services for content on Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu at this time.