Using Resource Lists
Course Organisers are encouraged to set up and update their Resource Lists and send them to the Library to review. There are checklists to help you provide the Library with the information we need to provide materials for teaching in 2023/24. The Library will set up new lists on request.
Why it’s important to prioritise (tag) citations on your list
The Library uses the priority tags Key text, Essential, Recommended and Further reading and student numbers to inform purchase and manage collections.
No action will be taken if items are not prioritised.
| Citation tag | The Library will: |
|---|---|
| Key text | Take extra steps to source an e-book or e-textbook where a Course Organiser identifies one 'key text' for the course |
| Essential |
Check for e-book availability Buy 1 print copy per 20 students if an e-book is unavailable Move print copies to Reserve (3 hour loan) Provide a scan if chapter/extract details are in the public note |
| Recommended |
Check for e-book availability Buy 1 print copy per 40 students if an e-book is unavailable Provide a scan if chapter/extract details are in the public note |
| Further reading |
Check for existing e-book availability and direct students to the Interlibrary Loan service if no copies are available No new copies will be purchased |
List length
The Library doesn’t limit the number of items on a list. Resource Lists with more than 200 citations will be managed in consideration of resource, time and budget. If a list is very long (400 items plus), the Library may decide to work on ‘Further reading’ at a later date when all other lists are complete.
For each new Resource List:
- Prepare your reading list.
- Complete the online form and attach your annotated reading list.
1. What information does the Library need?
- Provide a list of course resources required with full references.
- Prioritise items on the list using 'Essential', 'Recommended' and 'Further Reading'. These priorities inform how the Library will manage the provision of resources. If items on a list are not prioritised, no purchases or e-book checks will be carried out for these items.
- Highlight readings for which you would like the Library to try to source a copyright-compliant digitisation (scan). Include chapter details and page numbers. Limits apply. We can usually scan one chapter or 10% (whichever is greater). Sometimes we can pay for use of a second chapter. Not all titles are covered by the scanning licence. We’ll automatically try to provide a scan for any 'Essential' and 'Recommended' items with chapter/extract details in the public note if no e-book is available to buy.
- You may identify one 'key text' per course. A 'key text' is defined as being core to your teaching and for which a digital version is essential. The Library may be able to take extra steps to source a digital copy, however, this is not guaranteed. Additional 'key texts' may be identified for interdisciplinary courses.
- State clearly if you DO NOT want the most recent edition available added to the list.
2. Complete the online form and attach your list
The online form asks for information about the course; including course name, code and student numbers. When you have completed the form, attach your annotated reading list and submit. This will generate a Unidesk call. We’ll manage all correspondence and activity relating to the list using Unidesk.
You can set up your own Resource List and then use the ‘Request Library review’ button (at the top of the list) to send the list to the Library to check and process requests for new or additional materials.
How to set up a Resource List
- Go to the Resource Lists homepage and log in under 'Guest' using your University login.
- Click on 'Lists' then 'New List' to start setting up a new Resource List.
- Remember to tag any items you add to your list items 'Essential', 'Recommended' or 'Further reading'. You can also identify one 'key text' per course.
- Highlight any chapters or key pages you would like scanned by using the 'Digitisation request' tag and including chapter/extract details in the citation’s public note. (More about requesting Digitisations for teaching: How to request digitisations for teaching).
- When you've finished your list, use the 'Request Library Review' button to send your list to the Library, if you want us to check for e-book availability, purchase new resources or to provide copyright-compliant digitisations of key chapters or pages.
The Library won’t do any checks or purchase any new e-books or books if you don’t send your list for review.
Help and guides
If you are new to Resource Lists or need a refresher, use the Get started: 10 steps to Resource Lists Guide. Short videos are also available to help.
Course Organisers are expected to review and update their Resource Lists for the new academic year and then send their lists to the Library using the 'Request Library review' button at the top of the list.
We encourage Course Organisers to send their lists for review, even when no changes are required, to allow us to check links work as expected and available online content is added.
The Library will only check for e-book availability, purchase new items, provide copyright-compliant scans or check links are working as expected if you send your Resource List to us for review.
Help and guides
If you need a refresher on how to update a Resource List, take a look at the Get started: 10 steps to Resource Lists Guide. Short videos are also available to help.
When you send your list for review, the Library will:
- Check every citation against current holdings and purchase an e-book or additional print copies for all 'Essential' and 'Recommended' items on the list.
- Check all links on a list and make sure the most appropriate web address is being used and that all links are working.
- Check that any files that have been uploaded to the list are copyright-compliant and visible to students.
- Pass requests for copyright-compliant digitisations and/or book purchases to the relevant teams in the Library.
- If a digitisation of a key chapter or pages can be provided, the Library will link the scan to the corresponding citation on the Resource List and add a 'Digitisation available' tag to highlight availability to students.
- Move copies of 'Essential' items to Reserve (3 hour loan). NB. If a scan is provided, no copies will be moved to Reserve.
- Update the Resource List when new books or e-books are available.
When the list review is complete, the Library will:
- Send an acknowledgement email highlighting any issues or actions taken.
- Publish the Resource List.
- Send notifications to let Course Organisers know if an e-book has been purchased or is not available.
- Add new e-books, books or digitisations to the list as and when they become available.
Course Organisers should check that the Resource Lists link in the corresponding Learn course is made available to students.
Help and support
Guides and short videos are available to help you use Resource Lists.
Get started: 10 steps to Resource Lists Guide (PDF)
Resource Lists: Help and guides
Resource Lists 1-2-1s (via Microsoft Teams)
If you would like some help using Resource Lists, or have a question about the service, you can arrange a phone or video call with the Library Learning Services team via Microsoft Teams.
To arrange a meeting or ask a question, contact: Library.Learning@ed.ac.uk.