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Online Reading Lists: a guide for Academic Staff

A NEW guide for the updated Online Reading Lists support for academic staff.

Help and Support with online Reading Lists

If you have any questions about using online Reading Lists which are not covered in this guide, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Webinars

Webinars on using online Reading Lists are available throughout the academic year. Please visit our UoRLearn for more information and to book a place.

1-1 training and support

You can make an appointment with your Academic Liaison Librarian to go over any aspect of using online Reading Lists. To set up a meeting, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Can I export resources from my online Reading List into Endnote?

Please follow the instructions below to export resources from 'My Bookmarks' into your EndNote Library.

  1. Sign into the online Reading Lists system.
  2. Go to 'My Bookmarks' at the top left of the page, and tick those ones you want to export. To export all resources on this page, tick the box at the top of the column (NB if you have multiple pages of bookmarks this will only export the ones on that page).
  3. Click on 'Action' and choose 'Export citations'. This will produce a .ris file which you will need to save.
  4.  Email/share this file with colleagues or import it into an EndNote library.

Please follow the instructions below to export resources from an online Reading List into your EndNote Library.

  1. Sign into the online Reading Lists system and navigate to the list you would like to export.
  2. Click on 'View' in the top right of the list and choose 'As Student'
  3. Click on 'View and Export' and choose 'RIS' under export. This will produce a .ris file which you will need to save.
  4.  Email/share this file with colleagues or import it into an EndNote library.

Based on instructions developed by Jo Akers at Oxford Brookes University

Can I import references from my EndNote Library into My Bookmarks?

Please follow the instructions in this PDF guide.

Why can't I use the Bookmark Button on this website/resource?

Not all resources can be saved using the Bookmark Button and Talis have developed a Bookmarklet Extension tool which can bookmark from some of these resources.

For example, if you are trying to bookmark articles from an Emerald database, you will need to use the browser extension instead of the Bookmark Button.

A full list of resources and the best way to bookmark them is included below.

If you are trying to save a resource from a particular website or database, and find that this is not working, please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian.

Can I combine print and ebooks on my online Reading List?

Yes, you can add an ebook link to the bookmarked print record - please see the screencast below for a demonstration. The Library team will also check to ensure that ebook links are added wherever available, but adding an ebook link can save time and ensure that the link is more readily available to your students. 

  1. Search Enterprise for the title and author of your recommended item
  2. Firstly copy the link for the e-book from the results list. Do this by right-clicking on the 'Click here for online access to this book (University username and password required)' link and copying the link ( in Chrome select ‘Copy link address’, in Firefox select ‘Copy Link Location’)
  3. In Enterprise, click on the title of the print version of the recommended book
  4. Click on the 'Add to My Bookmarks' tool in your Bookmarks bar
  5. Add an additional ‘Web address’ field using the dropdown box in the bottom left of the page, and click 'Add'. You should now see a Web Address field on the left hand side of the page alongside the book details.
  6. Right-click and Paste the copied link to this field
  7. Tick the ‘Online Resource’ box at the bottom of the page and click ‘OK’ in the pop up to confirm using the Web Address for the link
  8. Click on 'Create' or 'Create & Add to List' 

Can I combine multiple reading lists into one list?

No. But you can import bookmarked items from one reading list into your 'My Bookmarks' page and then add these to another list by dragging and dropping them into the new list. See the advice given above on importing bookmarks from an existing list. Download our step by step guide below.

Why do I see an error message when I try to login or edit an online Reading List?

 You need to be logged in to the system to view draft lists. If you are not logged in, you will receive an error message along the lines of 'Page not found'

I cannot see the 'create a list' option in my account, why is this? To be able to create, edit, publish and share lists on the system you need to have been allocated the 'role' of 'list publisher'. If you have not received an automated email from @talisaspire.com inviting you to accept an invitation to become a ‘List Publisher’, then contact your Aacdemic Liaison Librarian for further help.

How do I delete an online Reading List?

Lists deletion can only be undertaken by the system administrators. Please email readinglists@reading.ac.uk if you wish to have a list deleted. Please provide a reason for the list to be deleted.

Can I create more than one reading list for the same module?

Yes, it is possible to create more than one list for the same module - please be aware that if you do this, you will need to link twice in Blackboard so that students have access to both lists. In some cases, you may prefer to split the list into multiple sections, and link to each section separately in Blackboard - this means that you will only have to manage one list each year.

Please contact your Academic Liaison Librarian for more information on the options available.

How do I link to more than one reading list in Blackboard?

Please see the guidance on our 'Saving and Sharing your online reading list' page, linked below.

How do I link to a section of a list in Blackboard?

Please see the guidance on our 'Saving and Sharing your online reading list' page, linked below.

Can I release sections of lists on a weekly basis?

This is not possible in the online Reading Lists system, but it is possible within Blackboard to link to a section of a reading list, and edit the settings to make the link available after a certain date.

Please see the guidance on our 'Saving and Sharing your online reading list' page, linked below.

Can I create a list for an international campus/partner institution?

Not at this time. 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.

How do I delete an online reading list?

List deletion can only be undertaken by the system administrators. Please email readinglists@reading.ac.uk if you wish to have a list deleted, including a reason why the list is no longer needed.