Electronic Reserves and WebCT: Using Courseware to Implement Electronic Reserves at the University Libraries of Notre Dame

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the fall of 1998 the administration of the University Libraries of Notre Dame decided to implement an electronic reserves service for its faculty and students by the 1999 academic year. A committee examined various alternatives: commercial electronic reserves packages; freeware; the University Libraries' integrated library system, Aleph 500; or developing an in-house module. Instead of selecting one of these options, the committee chose to use a courseware product already available at Notre Dame, Web Course Tools (WebCT). An electronic reserves service was set up within WebCT and implemented as a one-semester pilot project. WebCT proved to be an excellent choice, and the library continues to use it for electronic reserves.