A reading list is an integral part of the student experience at University. The University Library's Reading Lists service allows the Library to work with academics in providing this information to the students in a consistent way, through their VLE (e.g. Canvas) where they will be accessing their teaching materials, and ensuring the Library can offer access to the required resources.
This Guide will provide you with step-by-step instruction on how the Reading List system works and how, as academics, you can use this service to support your students.
What is the Reading Lists service?
The University Library's Reading Lists service contains essential, recommended and background reading for modules taught within Newcastle University. It is routinely promoted to the students throughout induction and via their VLE.
So what are the benefits of using this Reading Lists service?
- Use Reading Lists to create, manage and update your own lists online.
- The Library will ensure the correct number of copies, loan periods and access to electronic resources, based on the tags you apply to each item on your list. These also help students prioritise their reading.
- CLA scans (digitised book chapters and articles) can easily be requested through reading lists. There will be no need to email us or fill out a web form; simply tag the item on your list.
- The same applies to new stock, once on the reading list this information will trigger adding new material to our stock - there will be no need to contact us separately.
- Create your list within the reading list system and then export this to your module guide or handouts. This will save you time by only needing to create the list in one place.
Use the navigation menu to the left to work through the different steps you will need to take in order to create, manage, edit and finalise your reading lists, making them available to your students.
If you need help at any point then contact the Library's Reading Lists team for assistance: readinglists@ncl.ac.uk
What to do next
When it comes to making your list available to students there are two options:
Option 1 – Input your own list on the online Reading Lists system
- Access your reading list via Canvas.
- Add resources from Library Search and other sources using appropriate tagging (i.e. essential, recommended or background reading) against each item.
- Publish and send your list to the library for checking and stock ordering.
- This Guide will explain each stage of creating and managing your lists.
- We will only contact you if there are any problems.
Option 2 – Send your list to the library for inputting
Alternatively, you may wish to produce your reading list in a Microsoft Word document, or module handbook, and submit this to our dedicated Library Reading List team to create your online version.
On your reading list please include:
- A full list of items featuring relevant bibliographic details.
- Items labelled using standard reading categories - essential, recommended and background.
- An indication of which citations (include chapter or page numbers) you would like scanned.
- Any relevant notes, e.g. if you are using a specific edition (otherwise we’ll opt for the most recent publication) or, if you think items should be scanned or transferred to the Student Texts Collection.
- The Library will contact you when your list is published or if there are any problems.
