Resources Lists Online screnshot

There is a new reading list system that you can control and manage.  To reflect the wide range of resource types now recommended this is called Resource Lists Online (RLO).   In response to student feedback we want to ensure that recommended resources are as available and accessible as possible and this new system will enable us to do it.

What is it?

It is a resource list system to replace Talis List.  The software is called Talis Aspire and is being adopted by many universities throughout the UK.

When can staff use it?

Immediately. Academic staff have list creation and editing rights for RLO now.   When you log in to RLO you should see all the lists for the modules on which you are a Blackboard Instructor.  If this is not the case please let us know via the Feedback link.

Your Library faculty teams will be training faculty staff in how you can develop and maintain Resource Lists Online for your modules.  Here are some brief notes about it.

Why are we doing it?

Student feedback about library resources is generally positive. However students have said that they can’t always access the resources they need, and that resource recommendations are hard to locate in Blackboard sites.  With RLO, academic staff can update their lists themselves so they are up-to-date and staff can embed them in their Blackboard sites.

I used Talis List last year – what will happen to my old reading list?

Lists that existed previously in Talis List have been moved into RLO and attached to the relevant modules.   If there is a link from Blackboard to your old Talis List reading list via the old building block, this will now redirect your students to the new RLO list for your module. Links to Talis List reading lists not added via the Talis List building block will be redirected to a searchable RLO home page.

IS&T are currently developing a Blackboard building block for RLO that will be integrated RLO and Blackboard and will be included in next year’s module sites.  This will be able to be added in the same way Talis List used to in a Blackboard content area.

How does Resource Lists Online work?

As an academic staff member, you can create lists and attach them to modules that you teach on.  You can also edit any resource lists that already exist for your modules. Since you can update the lists yourself, you can ensure it is up-to-date much more quickly than with Talis List.

You can build lists by collecting your own personal list of bookmarks for items (books, eBooks, websites, digitised readings, journal articles, VoD recordings etc) and adding these bookmarked items to different lists. It is very easy to annotate and clarify exactly the purpose of any recommended resource.

Benefits to students

Availability of resources – the new system ensures the library identifies any resources that have been added to lists that we don’t yet have in stock – and will get them ordered (when available for purchase).  Where single chapters are recommended we will endeavour to get these digitised (where legally allowed). This should ensure a high level of availability for the resources students need.

Up-to-date resource lists – as it will be easier to maintain and annotate lists, academic staff can include new resources as the module progresses, ensuring students have access to up-to-date resource lists.

Personal study notes – students can put personal notes against any item on a list for their own reference

Getting support

The following resources are available to inform and guide staff in the use of RLO:

• Help guide for academic staff
• Staff Intranet information
• Sharepoint site
• Talis Aspire knowledge base

As well as providing staff training on the mechanics of using RLO, there will also be advice and guidance on the pedagogy of designing a good resource list. Providing this is part of the academic liaison role of Information Advisers in the LIS faculty teams.