Top Textbooks are textbooks that the Duke Libraries keep on reserve. They can be checked out for up to 3 hours at a time! Visit the Perkins Service Desk to check out a textbook.
Overview
The Duke University Top Textbooks Program is designed to reduce the burden of textbook costs for our student population by purchasing textbooks for the 100 largest courses on campus, based on course enrollment each semester, and placing them on reserve. That means that these textbooks are available for you to borrow at the Libraries for up to 3 hours!
Using Top Textbooks
First, check to see if we have your class's textbook on reserve, using the button above. In order to serve the largest number of students, we have collected the textbooks for the 100 courses with the highest enrollment. If your textbook isn't listed there, other course materials can be placed on reserve at faculty request (Course Reserves). Some course packs and lab manuals are also available, if the Libraries was able to buy them.
You can check out Top Textbooks for up to 3 hours at a time from the Perkins Library Service Desk. For more information on fines and renewals, see our full Circulation Policies . Some titles have copies available at the Lilly Library on East Campus, which is indicated in the Top Textbooks list.
Note that the list of Top Textbooks changes each semester to reflect which classes have the highest enrollment.
Other Reserves
If your instructor said there were materials on reserve, but you can't find them here, don’t despair! This list only includes textbooks for classes with the highest enrollment. Duke University Libraries also has books and film on reserve at Lilly Library. There are also music reserves at the Music Library. You may want to check out the Course Reserves page. These materials are set aside by faculty request; they are distinct from our Top Textbooks program.
Questions or Comments?
- For questions about textbook reserves at Perkins Library, please contact: perkins-reserves@duke.edu.
- For questions about textbook reserves at Lilly Library, please contact: lilly-requests@duke.edu.