Textbooks
It is not library policy, nor practice, to purchase circulating copies of textbooks for students. Indeed, it is the expectation of the University and the individual academic departments that assigned textbooks will be purchased by students for use in their classes. The library collection is intended to provide materials for scholarly research and to supplement classroom learning.
Some current textbooks have been placed in the library's Reserve Collection. Reserve books are limited to use for two hours at a time. Reserve books do not circulate and are not removed from the library. This ensures they are available to as many students as possible during the semester they are assigned. Books owned by the library which are later adopted as class textbooks will be transferred to the Reserve Collection during the time they are assigned for class use.
Students can not rely on Interlibrary Loan (ILL) for their textbooks. The library will not borrow textbooks through the interlibrary loan system. Interlibrary Loan services at IIT support the instructional, research and scholarly activities of faculty, students and staff by obtaining material not owned by the IIT Libraries. To prevent the loss of valuable study time, please consider purchasing a new or used textbook.
Search the IIT Library Catalog for Reserve titles. Inquire at the Circulation Desk to borrow reserve items.
