Find materials

Use the course reserves system in the Helm Library catalog to search for your book or textbook by class:

1. Search for your textbook using any of the following information:
   • Class name
   • Course # e.g. SOC 106
   • Instructor name
2. Select the course name, e.g. Introduction to Sociology, to see which books are on reserve for a specific class
3. Access the book or textbook by selecting ‘Item URI’. Read the notes section for instructions on how to access your chosen textbook

Watch a short video tutorial on how to access and search for textbooks:

The NSCC Library provides access to required books and textbooks electronically using the following platforms:

• Library databases
• Controlled Digital Lending (CDL)

Library Databases

Select the Item URI link to access your chosen book or textbook. Refer to the fields note to see your selected ebook has a limit on the number of users that can access an ebook at one time.

Controlled Digital Lending (CDL)

Before selecting the Item URI link, make sure that you are signed into your NSCC Account. Select the Item URI link, and then follow the directions on the CDL request page and form. After submitting the form, check your NSCC email for a link to a PDF version of the textbook you requested. The PDF will be available for two hours. If the book or textbook is unavailable, you will receive an email letting you know when it will be available to borrow.

What are course reserves?

Course Reserves are required textbooks, supplemental materials and media for a specific class that the library makes available at no cost to students.

Electronic course reserves

We make our course reserves available electronically to provide access to as many students as possible.

With few exceptions, we do not lend physical copies of textbooks and course materials, however, if you are unable to access an item online or need further assistance, please let us know.

Request a course reserve

Think there’s something we should have? Request a course reserve by completing our purchase request form.

While we can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to purchase every request, we do our best to purchase required course materials when possible.

Lab manuals

Fair use does not allow us to provide lab manuals or other similar materials using course reserves. When and if these are available to license digitally, we will pursue that as an option.