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Online reading lists: a guide for students

A guide to using your online reading list.
Tools to increase your productivity

To help you manage your time and academic reading more effectively, there are lots of extra things you can do with your reading list:

  • Create 'reading intention' notes
  • Make notes about items you've read (that only you can see!)
  • Download or print your list
  • Create a bibliography from your reading list (in a speciifc referencing style)
  • Purchase reading list items and have them delivered to the Blackwell's campus bookstore

Marking your 'reading intention'

Setting a 'reading intention' notes allows you to manage your time more effectively. Plan your weekly reading, annotating each item with 'Will read', 'Reading now', 'Have read' or 'Won't read' as appropriate. This will help you keep track of what you have read so far, and what to read next.

Only you see your 'read status' details. However, your tutor will have access to anonymised class-wide statistics.

Follow these steps...

1. Click 'Log In' on the black bar at the top of the list. This should pick up your Uni login and you will see your name displayed on the black bar.

Logging in to an online Reading List.

2. Click on the circle icon next to the title of the item, and choose the relevant statement.

Setting a reading intention in an online Reading List

 

3. You'll see the reading intention icon that you selected next to the title of the item.

You can go back and update these as you read items on your list.

You can also filter the list by your reading intentions:

The Filter list on Talis showing the reading intention options.

Making notes about items you've read

You can add private notes about your reading. No one else can see these notes, not even your tutor!

1. Click 'Log In' on the black bar at the top of the list. This should pick up your Uni login and you will see your name displayed on the black bar.

2. Click on the three dots to the right of the item you want to annotate and select 'Personal note':

3. Add your note to the box that appears under the item. Remember to click 'Save'.

Student note box showing the options to Save, Cancel and Delete underneath

Your note will now appear as part of the list - only you can see this note.

To edit or delete it, click on the three dots, choose 'Personal note' and use the options below the text box to edit or delete your note.

Creating a printable bibliography from your reading list

You can view your list in a particular citation style by clicking the 'Citation Style' button on the top left of the list. 

 

To export a bibliography in your selected style, go to 'View & Export' on the top right of the list and choose 'PDF - Bibliography'. You can also use this option to download a list view organised by week, or topic.

Purchasing items on online reading lists

As well as seeing live Library availability for a book cited on your reading list, you can also see if it is available to purchase via the Blackwell's bookshop website. If there is a copy in stock a price will be displayed.

The price shown is for the edition cited, you may be able to find a cheaper edition (e.g. in paperback) by going to the Blackwell's website. 

Blackwell is just one book retailer - you can, of course, buy your books elsewhere!