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Online Reading Lists: a guide for Academic Staff

A guide to using the Talis Online Reading Lists system for academic staff

Introducing online Reading Lists at Reading

This guide is intended to provide you with enough information to get you started on creating your own online reading lists using the University of Reading's online Reading Lists system. 

  • If you are new to online reading lists - please visit the next tab in this box to find out how to get started.
  • If you have used online reading lists before, and need support - please visit the 3rd tab for common questions, and further help.

Please use the menu on the left hand side of this guide to work through the steps to edit, organise and share your online reading list.

Quick intros

Watch this short video for an introduction to using the Online Reading Lists

Accessing your Online Reading Lists

Follow the link below to access your reading lists:

Supporting your students using their online Reading List

For further guidance on using online reading lists, either ask your students to contact their Academic Liaison Librarian directly, or point them in the direction of our online guide for students, to see what advice we suggest.

Students will access online reading lists through Blackboard. This ensures that students are able to see the most up to date list, for their correct academic year and module. There is more information on linking an online reading list to Blackboard in section 5 of this guide 'Saving and sharing your list'. 

If you are completely new to online reading lists at the University of Reading, please follow these steps to get started:

1. Set up your account. If you have not yet created an account with the online Reading Lists system, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian. Your Academic Liaison Librarian can also arrange a 30-minute meeting with you to help set up your account, and to help you get started.

2. Download the Bookmark Browser Extension. The Bookmark Browser Extension tool allows you to collect information on items that you want to add to lists. For more information, please see section 2 of this guide: 'Adding the Bookmark Extension to your web browser'.

If you are editing a list for an existing module and cannot find the list that you need, please speak to your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Please use the tabs along the left hand side of this guide to work through the steps to edit, organise and share your online reading list.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with your Academic Liaison Librarian.

If you have used online Reading Lists before and you would like a reminder, please follow the steps below:

1. Check that you have downloaded the Bookmark Browser Extension  The Bookmark Browser Extension allows you to collect information on items that you want to add to lists. For more information, please see section 2 of this guide: 'Adding the Bookmark Extension to your web browser'.

2. Add to My Lists. Ensure that you are working on the correct version of the list, for the current or upcoming academic year. If you're not sure how to find a current list, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian.

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You can use the '+ My Lists' button at the top of the reading list to add a list to your 'My Lists' area. This makes it easier to locate - you can view all saved lists in the 'My Lists' section accessible from the top left of the online reading lists screen.

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Now that you have access to the online reading list for the current academic year, you can begin to make edits and updates as necessary. Please use the tabs along the left hand side of this guide to work through the steps to edit, organise and share your online reading list.

​If you have any further questions, please get in touch with your Academic Liaison Librarian

Please use the tabs along the left hand side of this page for more information on aspects of creating, editing, and sharing your online reading list. If you have any questions at all, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian  - we can help via email, over the phone, or in a quick meeting to help in person.

When do I need to publish my list?

Wherever possible, please Publish your lists by the following deadlines. Publishing your lists makes them available to students, and notifies the Library. The Library will need 4-6 working weeks to review online reading lists, order additional items, and ensure that links to online resources are stable.

  Publication deadline (2025/26 academic year)
Full session 2025/26 31 July 2025
Semester 1 2025/26 31 July 2025
Semester 2 2026 1 December 2025

It is still possible to edit and make changes to your lists after these deadlines, and throughout the year. If you have any queries about these timescales or about new essential items added to your online reading list, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Accessible format information for online reading lists

The Library automatically adds an accessibility statement to the top of all online reading lists as part of the annual rollover of lists - the statement has a link with information on how students can request accessible format versions of print texts, as below;

Library Alternative Formats [link] https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/help-disabilities/services#s-lg-box-15929471The Library aims to ensure all our resources are accessible. If our print materials are not accessible for you, please contact us at library@reading.ac.uk to ask about alternative formats and discuss your needs.

You may wish to move the Library Alternative Formats link to suit the arrangement of other content on your list, but please don’t delete it.

If you would like to know more about the Library’s alternative formats service, please see our Help for users with disabilities guide below:

Reading lists for international partnership institutions/campuses

Please note that the online Reading Lists system (Talis) should only be used for modules delivered within the UK (i.e. at Whiteknights or London Road), it is not licensed for use at our international partnership institutions/campuses.

The University Library availability information linked to each print item and our e-resource and copyright licensing agreements preclude the use of this software for modules taught at our international partnership institutions/campuses, including Malaysia.

If you require duplicate reading lists for modules taught at our international partnership institutions, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for further advice.