SCPS Interdisciplinary Studies: Instructors

Not seeing what you need in our catalog? Remember to always check our catalog first before requesting purchases.

Need additional support? Chat with our staff immediately in the box above or email the Library Reserves team at lib-reserves@virginia.edu 

Learn more about our course reserves service.

There are infinite options to customize your course with Library materials. Learn how to place requests in our catalog, Virgo, for chapter scans and video.

UVA Library supports the creation and use of Open Educational Resources (OER), which are freely available instructional materials that anyone can use, adapt, and share. Examples include textbooks, course readings, videos, quizzes, and more. OER allows instructors to customize content to meet the specific needs of a course and for students to participate in knowledge creation.  The Library's OER team can help faculty with a range of services relating to open education: discovering relevant resources, adapting existing content, creating new materials, and adopting open teaching practices.

We also encourage searching our catalog, Virgo, for Library eBooks to use in your course instead of directing students to purchase textbooks. You can search by title, subject, or methodology. Watch our tutorial on how to select Library eBooks for your course.

Library instruction complements your teaching and ensures your students are equipped to tackle their assignments.

Collaborate with your liaison librarian, Todd Burks, who provides customized sessions  covering all stages of the research process from topic development to capstone planning.

Can the Library buy my textbook(s) for my students?

Unfortunately, not all course texts are available as institutional e-books. We cannot purchase textbooks from Pearson, MacMillan, Cengage, and McGraw Hill. In most cases publishers refuse to sell textbook licenses to libraries as it cuts into their profit.

How much am I allowed to scan?

As a rule of thumb, the Library is generally able to scan a single chapter per book or a single article from a journal issue under fair use. View additional guidelines.

What's the best way to link Library content in my courses?

We recommend organizing your content in your weekly modules. When you link and/or upload Library content to your course you also need to adhere to copyright law. Watch our tutorial below.

The library holds video materials in direct support of curricular needs across all disciplines represented at the University. We will gladly purchase relevant materials for curricular and research use. Librarian Leigh Rockey is available to consult with faculty to help locate appropriate video content for a class or research project, purchase new content, and offer assistance with technical issues.

Find out more about our streaming video collections.

Looking to switch up your syllabus and incorporate diverse voices? The Library offers a curated collection of databases, journals, books, research guides, external sites, and streaming media that focuses on the study of populations striving for equity of opportunity and representation.