Dear Colleagues, 

I posted a question concerning experiences of managing electronic reading lists last month.

I have summarised the responses I received below.

Many thanks to all those who responded. It was very helpful.

Kind regards, 
Angharad James

****************

Electronic Reading List Responses Summary 11.12.08

There were 9 responses. 8 respondents were from HE. 1 respondent was from FE but also worked with HE students. Some respondents gave general comments rather than responding to the questions below. 


1) How are you delivering the reading lists? 

6 respondents used Talislist. Of this, 1 respondent (who worked with FE and HE students) used Talislist to deliver HE content (as they had access to a partner University's Talislist system) They delivered lists to their FE students by creating dynamic reading lists on programmes like Word using hyperlinks to their WebOPAC.

1 respondent used the system developed by Loughborough University.

1 respondent delivered lists online, through the web, converting word files into Dreamweaver documents (using a template) and linking to items in their Catalogue (using a look up tool they developed). This respondent was also piloting a system based within their VLE (BlackBoard) which allows tutors to edit lists online in the VLE, and submit lists to the Library. They planned to adopt this system in 09/10.



2) How easy is it to input and maintain reading lists? 
No respondent replied positively. The majority of respondents stated that inputting and maintaining lists was time consuming.  



3) What problems have you encountered?
The problems noted were:
a) Time constraints. One respondent noted that creating links to e-journals was particularly time consuming.

b) Lack of a clear policy

c) 'Fiddly' to input lists

d) Out of date reading lists (the respondent noted that then linking to the most up to date edition confused the students.)

e) Obtaining lists from academics. 

f) Ensuring consistent style of reading lists. One institution has developed a style manual to counter this problem

g) Volume of lists. 



4) What percentage of reading lists do you have online?
Only 1 respondent answered this question, stating that 60-70% of reading lists were available electronically. Two respondents thought that only a small number of their reading lists available electronically.

2 respondents said that did not know what proportion of reading lists were available electronically. One noted that it would be difficult to estimate, as they were unaware of how reading lists existed. Another respondent stated that the number of reading lists available varied between subject areas.



5) What resources did you give to inputting and maintenance? 
a) Time

b) Extra staffing
One respondent said that they had some assistance in checking that they had the items in stock before they input details.

Another noted that they had a small team of staff at library assistant and senior library assistant level that input the lists. An assistant librarian co-ordinates, there is a cataloguer who co-ordinates acquisitions and catalogues as it affects list maintenance. The respondent noted that staff members work on this in addition to their regular duties. In the summer vacation, they also paid casual staff to do it, mostly students who had worked as shelvers.

Another respondent noted that they employed extra staff in August and September and October to input reading lists. 



6) Are academics involved with the process?
Academics played a very limited role in all responses. 

3 respondents noted that academics were only involved in submitting lists. 1 respondent noted that they also encouraged their academics to check lists. 

1 organisation was trying to get lecturers to complete their own lists but found there was little take up.

1 respondent noted that some academics felt it de-skilled students.



7) Any other comments
  
* 'It would be nice to have someone who could be specifically dedicated to doing the job, as we could give it the attention it deserves.'

* 'The software (Talislist) is not particularly intuitive. Because the number of users is not particularly high, there may not be enough pressure on the developers to improve it. The whole process is very time consuming. We have probably not yet reached the point where we have got all the lists that we are likely to get, so we cannot estimate the maintenance load. But once started, if you don't continue, you have wasted a lot of money in terms of software licenses and more significantly, staff time.
Having said that, potentially if offers a useful tool, especially for students new to higher education to get to the stuff they need to read without too much hassle, as many arrive with no, or poor library skills. Colleagues who work with distance learners say the project is particularly helpful to them, as we are able to (mostly) link directly to electronic resources and versions of print materials.'

*'I used TalisList to create a list of Cases for a module- that was well received, and very time consuming initially! TalisList is ok, but enters items at the bottom of any list, so updating involves moving items to the right place.'

*'Are there any people who have been delivering these reading lists - via the library - to people on their mobile phones?'

*'It very much plays second fiddle to our bread and butter services. We do consider it an extra to be done if we have time. When we first set the HE course ones up a few years ago, we did spend a good length of time doing them, roughly a week per course, since then we have just been maintaining year on year so it doesn't take as long.'

*'Based on my experience, I would say don't do it [implement electronic reading lists.] Our library management system was Talis and we purchased the Talis List reading list software to make reading lists available online. It was also available via the library catalogue.

Staff and students were keen on Talis reading lists but there are some issues to be aware of. The Subject Librarians input their own reading lists which allowed us to maintain control of the information and the process but was extremely time-consuming. It is not worth doing unless you have staff that can dedicate time to it. Our staffing was down to the bare minimum and this meant that we did not have assistants to assist us. We also did our own book orders. Some Schools were very good at providing reading lists and course handbooks. Other Schools were poor at it and patchy coverage online deters students from returning. In my case I simply did not receive the majority of the reading lists and of those I received very few were provided in advance. Receiving lists after the start of teaching in the Autumn term meant it was unlikely for me to be able to find the time to input the lists.

In contrast, at [a different university] the Academic Services Librarians have assistants to do their book orders and input reading lists online which makes it much easier provided the reading lists are received in advance. We also have Talis reading lists here. Once again, coverage can vary and some Schools have longer reading lists than others.'



_________________________________________________
 
Angharad James
 
Assistant Information Librarian/Llyfrgellydd Gwybodaeth Cynorthwyol
University of Wales, Newport/Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
Allt-yr-yn Campus/Campws Allt-yr-ynn
Allt-yr-yn Avenue/Rhodfa Allt-yr-ynn
Newport/Casnewydd
NP20 5DA
 
Telephone/Rhif ffon: +44 (0) 1633 432564
Email/E-bost: [log in to unmask] 
________________________________________
From: Angharad James 
Sent: 10 December 2008 10:13
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Electronic reading lists

Dear colleagues,

We are investigating ways of implementing electronic reading lists. I would be very interested to hear colleagues' views and experiences of creating and maintaining reading lists, particularly from anyone who has delivered reading lists via a library catalogue. 

Below is a list of questions, although any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
 
Please reply to me and I will collate a reply to the group.

Thanks and best wishes, 
Angharad James

* How are you delivering the reading lists? 

* How easy is it to input and maintain reading lists? What problems have you encountered?

* What percentage of reading lists do you have online?

* What resources did you give to inputting and maintenance? 

* Are academics involved with the process?

* Any other comments
 
Angharad James
 
Assistant Information Librarian/Llfrgellydd Gwybodaeth
University of Wales, Newport/Prifysgol Cymru, Casnewydd
Allt-yr-yn Campus/Campws Allt-yr-ynn
Allt-yr-yn Avenue/Rhodfa Allt-yr-ynn
Newport/Casnewydd
NP20 5DA
 
Telephone/Rhif ffon: +44 (0) 1633 432564
Email/E-bost: [log in to unmask]