Request Library Resources for Teaching & Research
This page has information on requesting library resources (e.g., ebooks, book chapters, journal articles) for teaching and research.
- Course Reserves (also known as ARES) - use this option for requesting library resources for your course instruction.
- Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery (IDD) - use this option for requesting library resources for your research (or for course instruction with some special conditions*).
*Note on special conditions for IDD: If an instructor submits an Interlibrary Loan request for an ebook to be used for course instruction, USC Libraries may be able to purchase that ebook.
For help with Course Reserves and Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery, email idd@usc.edu or call 213-740-4020.
Both services can be accessed by clicking "Services" on the top of any page of the USC Libraries website. Instructors can also link to ARES Course Reserves in their Brightspace courses so that students do not have to sign into more than one platform.
Course Reserves
- Course Reserves (ARES)USC Libraries Course Reserves is an online platform that instructors can use to request (or upload) course material (e.g., ebooks, book chapters, articles, videos) to the platform for students to access. Instructors should use this link to sign in with their USC Net ID and password to activate their Course Reserves account and create and manage their courses/course materials. Students also use this link to sign in with their USC NET ID and password to access online course materials reserved by their instructors.
- Course Reserves (ARES) GuideThis guide provides a detailed overview of Course Reserves, including copyright guidelines, deadlines for submission, and step-by-step guides on how to create and add items to your courses and integrate Course Reserves into Brightspace.
- Link Brightspace Course to ARES Course ReservesGuide with step-by-step instructions for adding a link to ARES Course Reserves to your Brightspace course so that students do not have to log into two platforms.
Instructors using Course Reserves for the first time: After logging into ARES, contact IDD at idd@usc.edu or 213-740-4020 to set your access level to INSTRUCTOR so you can create and items to your courses and manage course content.
Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery
- Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery (IDD)Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery (IDD) is a free service you can use to request journal articles, book chapters, and books that are not available through USC Libraries or only available in print. Use this link to sign in with your USC Net ID and password to request items. First time users will be prompted to create a profile.
- Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery (IDD) GuideThis guide provides a detailed overview of eligibility, turnaround times, and how to make requests, check the status of your requests, and get help.
Within the IDD system:
- Under “Scan and Deliver,” you can request journal articles and book chapters to be scanned and emailed to you as PDF files. Due to copyright restrictions, only two chapters from a book can be delivered this way.
- Under “Borrow,” you can click "Book" to request to borrow physical books from our partner institutions to be mailed to USC. Please be aware that partner institutions will likely not lend course-required textbooks or new editions of print books.
- Under “Borrow,” you can click "E-Book" and USC Libraries may purchase the ebook on the condition that it will be used for course instruction. Include a note in the "Additional Information and/or Special Instructions" field indicating that you are a faculty member and the ebook is for course instruction.