The acquisition of reading list items forms a significant part of the Library's collection development policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a shift to online library services for the time being. But ensuring that essential resource list items are available electronically is generally good practice as it enables the widest levels of access and helps to ensure student satisfaction.
The Library is working with academic departments at the University to adopt a more consistent approach to resource lists in terms of length and structure, while also moving to a more streamlined workflow.
Resource Lists Online is the primary vehicle for UoB students to access their resource lists. The Library creates RLO lists based on the recommendations of academic staff, and can also provide training if academics wish to edit and maintain their own lists.
RLO lists are embedded on the relevant Moodle sites, as well as being accessible from the Library website, student portal and MyBolton app.
Recommended Resource List Structure for 2019-20 onwards
It is recognised that different subject areas have different approaches with regard to learning resources. Resource list length can be agreed on a departmental basis, but this should be underpinned by principles of simplicity, consistency and improving the student experience.
The following structure is a good starting point to follow, with all resource lists items to be assigned one of the following importances:
It is not necessary for every resource list to feature every importance.
Suggested for Student Purchase
The Suggested for Student Purchase category indicates to students where a title will be used on a very regular basis. All items with this category will be passed to John Smiths bookstore, and will be made available for students to purchase using the #UniAsItShouldBe bursary scheme if they wish. The Library will also acquire titles in this category.
It's not necessary to identify a Suggested for Student Purchase title unless it is required.
Essential and Recommended Reading
Where items are listed as Essential or Recommended the Library will seek to provide the text in electronic format. This will either be:
When a Reading List is submitted, the Library will check the availability of the Essential and Recommended titles. If titles are not available electronically, they will contact the relevant staff and ask for a chapter or section to digitise. If an item is to remain as Essential or Recommended this information must be provided, or the title will have to be moved to the Further Reading section.
If all of the requested areas of the text cannot be digitised due to copyright restrictions, an alternative electronic text should be recommended. Alternatively, one key chapter could be digitised and made Essential or Recommended, while other print-only chapters could be listed in the Further Reading section.
Further Reading
The Library will aim to provide access to all Further Reading where possible, in either print or electronic format. It will make use of emerging acquisition formats such as Demand Driven Acquision (DDA) or electronic Short Term Loans (STL) to provide access to material, while ensuring the best financial return on investment. Academic staff can support this strategy by:
* The Library is will be trialling digitisation during the 2020-21 academic year.
Resource Lists should be submitted to the Library using our new template.
Once completed the form should be returned to library-requests@bolton.ac.uk. Once received, the Library will check your Resource List for availability.
When completing a module specification, or otherwise reviewing a reading list, the following steps are advised:
* The Library is will be trialling digitisation during the 2020-21 academic year.