Course materials services

The Libraries have a number of ways to help instructors deliver course materials to their students including course reserves, E-text(s), articles, media, open education resources and more.

Course materials options

Course reserves

Course reserves are instructor-selected materials made available to students through the Libraries free-of-charge.

The copyright permissions service assists faculty and staff at the University of Minnesota in acquiring permissions to use copyrighted items in their scholarship, course websites, coursepacks, Libraries Course Reserve, and other University-related purposes.

Multi-use e-text(s)

Request that the Libraries purchase a multi-use e-text title, if available, for your course. View a list of online textbooks we have made available in the current semester.

Send your request to coursematerials@umn.edu or fill out the course materials request form.

Canvas integration

The University Libraries offers a number of ways to integrate library resources and services into Canvas. Using library resources in your Canvas course site saves students from paying for materials the Libraries already have available, and it ensures all students have access to the desired material.

Instructors also have access to update and modify the Library Course Materials page for their Canvas courses. Please see our Library Course Materials Guide for more information.

Digital video delivery service

Request that a video in the Libraries' collection be digitized for instructional purposes. Digitized videos are loaded into Kaltura for inclusion in Canvas and other course pages.

Open textbooks and open education resources

We can help you find freely available and openly licensed open textbooks and open educational resources for your course.

See the list of University Libraries Publishing Services open textbooks.
Visit the Open Textbook Library for a curated list of open textbooks from around the world.

Write and publish an open textbook

We can help you write and publish an open textbook or other OER. We have a variety of technologies, support options, and expertise to help you create and make your content available to students at the University of Minnesota and around the world. Contact us at coursematerials@umn.edu for more information.

Course content consultation

Collaborate with the Libraries to find customized course content and materials already purchased through the University Libraries. The Libraries has access to thousands of full-text databases, journals, and e-books that can easily be added to your course environment. Use library content to save students money.

Pressbooks

Pressbooks is simple self-service book production software. You can use Pressbooks to publish textbooks, syllabi, modules, and other course materials in multiple formats. You already have access to this tool by logging in with your U of M Internet ID and password.

Media collections support

Find information about reserving, accessing and requesting a purchase of library media.