Dear all,

Last month I asked for comments regarding best practice in the use of 
online reading lists. Below are a summary of the results. 

The most successful service was one that had been up and running for a 
couple of years. It had been able to incorporate the system into the 
infrastructure of the institution, getting academics on board and linking 
to the institution’s VLE. Additionally a good paper reading list management 
system was already in place. These things aren't easy to achieve but gives 
us something to aim at when thinking about creating a sustainable service.

Many thanks to all who contacted me.

Sally Maitland

Science Subject Librarian
Birkbeck Library

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Online reading list management systems: LIS LINK survey summary August 2005

8 people replied, all from UK universities. 2 are running pilots, 3 are in 
the beginning stages and 3 have been using a system for at least a year.

Which management system are you using?

6 respondents are using TalisList
2 are using Sentient DISCOVER

(1 would have liked to use the system developed by Loughborough University 
but they do not have the resources required for the technical requirements 
of the system)

How straightforward is it to input and maintain reading lists?
Opinions were divided: 3 respondents thought the process was 
straightforward, whereas 4 considered the process to be 
tedious: “slow”, “flakey software”, “time-consuming”. The difference in 
opinion did not reflect the management system used.

What percentage of reading lists do you have online?
The figures often depended on how many reading lists the library actually 
received: 1 service received about a third of reading lists and had put up 
a third of these; another service had been able to put up 100% of the lists 
that had been sent to the library. On institution had put up lists for 20% 
of live modules. Other respondents were still piloting so had small numbers 
of lists available.

Have you had to alter the way reading lists are presented in order to get 
them online?
Replies varied. One service found it too time-consuming to input extensive 
lists so now only include links to books on the library catalogue. Other 
institutions inputted them as they were formatted by teaching staff – one 
service has strict guidelines which all reading lists have to comply with. 
One respondent commented that using an online reading list management 
system may even help to create standards.

What resources have you been able to give to inputting/maintenance?
For most services, it is part of existing staff’s jobs. e.g. for subject 
librarians, information advisors, inputting of lists is combined with 
academic liaison, checking and ordering. Other services have created 
specific teams/volunteers from library staff who spend varying amounts of 
time on it e.g. one day a month. One service has mainly used students to 
input lists.

Are academics involved with the inputting?
No academics are involved with inputting at the moment.

Will academics be involved with inputting in the future?
One service was optimistic that staff would soon be involved. Three 
services thought it a possibility. The remaining services did not think 
that academics would become enthusiastic.

Is the service linked to your VLE?
5 reading list systems were linked to VLEs. One reported problems of 
linking to full text sources using ATHENS Devolved Access.

What factors have particularly helped to make the service work?
Academic liaison seemed to be an important factor in making such a service 
a success – one institution has set up a specific academic liaison project 
to help drive the initiative. Other factors for success included a good 
paper reading list management system, good training & documentation and 
good, communicative library staff.

What are the particular factors that are preventing the service from being 
sustainable?
Difficulty in getting lists from departments, lack of academic staff 
interest and willingness to input/maintain their own lists.

Other comments: 
Service needs to be comprehensive and up-to-date for students to use it. 
However, if the library received 100% reading lists it would struggle to 
input them all because of resource/time constraints.

Using an online reading list management system gives the potential of 
receiving very useful management information e.g. how many lists an item 
appears on, collection gaps.