I am investigating the practicalities of placing undergraduate reading
lists on the Library web catalogue (with on-line links to the specific
catalogue entries). I am aware that this is common practice at many
academic institutions, but I have always experienced problems in obtaining
reading lists and keeping them up-to-date.
Could anyone help me with the following questions :
1) Are the Faculties or the Library responsible for putting reading lists
on your web site?
2) How comprehensive are your lists? Is there a list for every unit
taught?
3) Are reading lists available from your Library OPAC? Are the reading
lists static documents or linked to holdings.
4) Who is responsible for acquiring reading list information? Is the
Library responsible for their acquisition or is the onus on the Faculties
to send copies to the Library. If the latter, how do you ensure that the
lists are provided regularly?
5) Who is responsible within the Library for adding lists to the OPAC?
How much time does an "average" list take?
6) Are lists up-dated annually (or each semester) or continuously
throughout the year? What mechanisms/procedures are used to ensure that
updates are received? If lists are out-of-date, are Faculties held
responsible?
7) Perhaps the first question should really have been, are linked
reading lists 1) useful and 2) popular with students, i.e. are readings on
OPACs justified
8) Any other major problems, before we leap into the abyss
Any advice and guidance would be appreciated.
Robert Burrell
User Services Librarian
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