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FAQs containing information for teaching and support staff on how to use ReadingLists@UCL, including how to set up a reading list and link it to Moodle.
Getting started
All information on how to set up and use online reading lists is on the ReadingLists@UCL guide.
Below are some questions we have been asked most frequently.
Contact information
The service is supported by the Teaching and Learning Services (TLS) team.
- E-mail: readinglists@ucl.ac.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I link to a reading list from my Moodle course?
Yes. Detailed instructions on linking your reading list to Moodle can be found in the ReadingLists@UCL Guide.
- Remind me, what are the benefits of the online reading lists over, say, Moodle?
Please see a list of benefits listed on the ReadingLists@UCL Guide.
- How do I add digitised readings to my list?
First add the item you wish to digitise to your reading list.
Then add a library note to that item specifying the extract(s) you wish to digitise, plus your initials and the date of the note.
It's important that you provide as much information as possible about the extract(s) you wish to digitise, to ensure we digitise exactly what you need - e.g. chapter numbers and titles, and page ranges.
Finally, click "Publish" (This is important, otherwise your note will not be picked up by our systems). The libary note will then be picked up by the library and your readings digitised, subject to copyright restrictions. See also details on requesting digitisation of articles or book chapters on our ReadingLists@Guide.
Where digitisation is permitted we can usually only digitise up to one chapter or 10% (whichever is greater) of any one book for any one course. Further information about digitised readings can be found in our Course Readings Service pages.
- How do I enable a colleague to edit my list?
At the top of the reading list click "Edit" then select "Invite List Publishers". Insert the UCL email address of your colleague and click "send invite". They will be sent an email inviting them to edit this list.
Alternatively, email us your colleague's name and their UCL email address, and we will arrange for them to have the same level of access as you.
- Students cannot see the changes I have made
Click "Publish" to make the changes visible to your students.
- Only part of the metadata has pulled through into the reading list. What can I do?
You can edit the record to add more data manually; go to the three dots to the right of an item, and click "Edit" from the drop down.
This will bring up the metadata screen and allow you to amend data. You can use the drop-down menu from "Additional fields" (towards the bottom of the metadata screen) to add any additional fields.
Alternatively, paste the full bibliographic details into the "Library note" field and when you have completed the list, press the button "Request review". (See the FAQ below "What is a review and how do I request one?")
- Some links don't appear to work when off campus
When off campus, a link to an e-journal or e-book e-resources will not always recognise you as a member of UCL. The easiest way around this is to access Desktop@UCL Anywhere which mimics on-site access.
If the problem persists then please contact e-resources.
If a link to a course reading pdf is not working (i.e. a reading digitised by the TLS), please email us and let us know if the reading is needed urgently.
- Which web browsers are supported?
ReadingLists@UCL is supported for use on Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. This is optimised for the latest versions of these browsers.
- Can my students see my reading list before they start at UCL?
If a reading list is created in ReadingLists@UCL and published, then prospective and incoming students can view it via the list URL if you make that available to them, or by searching for the list by title in ReadingLists@UCL. Although students will have access to the list itself, they will only have access to the subscribed resources in the list once they start at UCL (and have a UCL ID).
If you have concerns regarding the intellectual property of your reading list please note there is an "All rights reserved" copyright notification present at the end of all lists. The list remains your intellectual property and is protected by copyright legislation.
- How do I create a new reading list for the next academic year? (Rollover)
Please see our ReadingLists@Guide that explains what happens at rollover. Do note however that once your list is rolled over, you will notice that your "My lists" section contains lists from last year, which will have been archived. Any updates you make to these will not appear on the new reading list. To remove these archived lists from view, select the check box next to the relevant list, then click the "Remove from view" button at the top of the screen.
To add new lists to your 'My lists' area, go to 'Home', search for a list, then click the top right hand button marked 'Add to my lists'.
- What is a review and how do I request one?
A review involves an expert member of the Teaching and Learning Services team looking through your list and checking that:
- all weblinks are working correctly;
- all items marked "essential" are checked;
- student notes are consistent with the associated items;
- library notes are checked and, where necessary, acted on.
The list owner would be notified by email once the review has been completed.
To request a review, click "edit" and the top right of you list, and then select "request review" from the drop-down.
- What training is available?
We can offer you a short 1:1 orientation session either online or face-to-face to explain how to use ReadingLists@UCL. Just contact us via readinglists@ucl.ac.uk. We can tailor the training according to your role, whether it be Departmental Administrator, Module Lead, Library Subject Liaison staff or any other role within UCL.
For Library Subject Liaison staff we can also offer relevant tips on managing reading lists (which you can pass on to your departments), provide various promotional materials, or sit with you whilst you do the training to answer any niche questions. If you would like a training session, please email readinglists@ucl.ac.uk, and a member of the team will assist you.
Our ReadingLists@UCL Guide supports this training with videos and other information on using ReadingLists@UCL.
- Are there any specific librarian type tips?
Oh yes. These are the top three most requested - and appreciated:
ISSN look-up. (access for Library Services staff only)
This is requested regularly by librarians who are weeding or purchasing new stock, and wish to check if a previous edition is being recommended on an online reading list. Search by ISSN and it will show which reading lists from the current year cite this book.
Reports
Use the "Export" button at the top of each list to export the bibliographic details to a spreadsheet. If you need more detailed information about readings, for example across your department, request an "All items" report from the TLS team.
Request review
See the above section "What is a review and how do I request one?".
Finally, subscribe to the ReadingLists@UCL blog for the latest news on reading lists and other TLS services.