Resource Lists: Overview & Getting Started

Resource Lists is the name of the university's online reading list software (provided by Talis Aspire). Almost all taught modules will have a resource list containing all essential and further readings required for the module.

Key principles of Resource Lists

As a part of the University approved 'Reading and Resource List Framework' academic colleagues agreed the following shared guidelines for the presentation and maintenance of Resource Lists:

• Organise Resource Lists by week/topic, categorising materials as Essential (2–3 items) or Further (2–3 items) per week, with Student Notes explaining relevance and content.
• Prioritise digital resources, including the Library's online collections (see Subject Guides) and digitised materials via the copyright-cleared Digitisation Service.
• Use Moodle plug-ins to embed and contextualise Resource Lists within module sections for easy student access.

See our Example presentation of a Resource List.

For more information about the Resource List Framework and the Library's Collection Development Policy see documents below or contact the Academic Engagement Team.

Steps to updating your Resource List

You will be usually working in multiple tabs (windows) in your Internet Browser, e.g. Google Chrome (recommended), Safari, etc.

Step 1: Open up Resource List page (to edit your list), Library Homepage (to find resources to add) and Moodle (to use the Moodle plug in to embed your resource list into Moodle).

Step 2: Log into Resource Lists, you should see your name listed in the dark green bar at the top. If it says Create a Profile you will need to click on this to set up a profile. This will allow lists to be assigned to you in future.

Step 3: Go to My Lists to see lists assigned to you or search for your Module Title, Module Code to see the lists.

Step 4: If a list is missing from My Lists please contact the Library's Academic Engagement Team to get editing rights, you will be sent an email inviting you to become a List Editor (see Gaining editing rights).

Step 5: Now you can start Adding Resources and Editing Lists as appropriate.

Note: On Talis Aspire, there is an option to "Add Library Note" against a list item. We recommend that staff do not use this, as doing so does not alert the Library. Instead, please email libraryengagement@roehampton.ac.uk to query any issues/questions about that resource.

How to get editing rights

First please check whether or not you already have editing rights to Resource Lists for the modules that you are teaching. To do this you can search for the module code/title on Talis Aspire Resource List Software and check you are logged in (should say your name in the dark green navigation bar near the top of the page). If you can see an Edit button on the right hand side of the page (see screenshot below) then you are able to edit the list.

If you can't see an Edit button this means you don't yet have editing rights, please email the Academic Engagement Team to get access. You will be sent an invite email (from No-Reply- TalisAspire) and need to accept the invite by clicking on the second link in the email in order for the Edit button to appear. Please note that sometimes these emails go into your Junk Mail.

NB: When you accept a List publisher invitation for the first time, the system will ask you to fill in your profile. This only takes a moment. Please leave your profile set to public, as this will enable students to search for resource lists using your name, if they wish to.

Example of a Resource List:

Below is an example of a weekly section of a Resource List embedded in Moodle. Each item has been designated as Essential or Further, and has been annotated to contextualise the resource.

The University is working towards having all Essential Readings available digitally either as an eBook or as a digitised chapter, also known as our "Digital First" policy. Please make use of existing online materials or request digitisation of chapters by using the "Request Digitisation" option on your resource list. We are only able to digitise 10% or one chapter of a book and we require page numbers to satisfy a request. 
 

Licensing and eBook FAQs

Why is a book not available in eBook format?

What does it mean when there are different eBook license models?

If it is stocked by the Library, can you scan the whole book to make it available electronically?

The book is available at another Library in eBook format, yet I have been told we are unable to acquire this. Why is this? 

What guidance can you offer to explain these issues to my students?

Accessing Resources

Library staff have been working hard behind the scenes to implement EZProxy, the seamless authentication service for access to e-resources. Staff and students should now encounter fewer barriers to access in the form of confusing log-in screens – provided you have navigated via a library page (such as UR Library Search, Subject Guides or Resource Lists). This also avoids the risk of broken links, which do happen as resource URLs change, whereas the Library automatically updates these so you don’t have to.

Your Librarian can work with you to ensure your Moodle page directs students via the Library’s pre-authenticated routes. For instance, rather than linking direct to the database URL or suggesting Google, you can guide them to recommended resources by:

• Linking to one of our Subject Guides, which list the relevant databases plus information on how to search them;

• Linking to the resource using the Library link from our A-Z Database list (right click on the title and then Copy Link Address);

This will improve the searching experience for students, making them more likely to engage with the content and develop their information seeking skills. As a bonus, the Library platforms allow easier collection of usage statistics, which provide vital evidence for us to retain these valuable subscriptions.