On the shelf, in time

Lorna Dodd

Liaison Librarian,

Academic Services,

University College

Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland

Lorna.dodd@ucd.ie ,

Developing a strategy to

improve reading list support

Hugh Murphy

Deputy Head,

Information Resources

Management

University College Dublin,

Belfield, Dublin 4,

Ireland

Hugh.Murphy@ucd.ie

Even in 2010, Reading Lists remain invaluable

– for academic, student and librarian

Reading List Support

• Traditional problems

• New problems & solutions

• Changes – 2009

• Review - 2010

• Recommendations

• Conclusion

Traditional Problems - Academic Services

• Complexity of University administration

• Getting the lists – communication with academics

• Access to VLE

• Legacy of individual practice – in Schools, in library – sites, departments etc.

• Difficult to identify number of reading lists received

• Interdisciplinary nature of university teaching

Traditional problems - Technical Services

• Reading list items not tackled as ‘priority’ orders

• No distinction between Semester 1 and Semester 2 orders.

• Reading List items don’t get to shelf more quickly

• Consequences of academic services issues

• Lack of transparency

• Duplication of work

Number one driver for current change

New Problems

• More books needed, but less money

• Need for centrally organised system/business plan

• Lack of clearly articulated University wide policy

Solution..?

• Creation of Targeted Reading List Fund

• Submission form for each reading list

• Specific deadlines for submission

• New work procedures for both Academic & Technical Services

• Available money strictly tied into Reading Lists items

APPLICATION FORM FOR TARGETED FUNDS FOR READING LISTS 2009-10

Part 1 Module and Lecturer Details Complete as many fields as possible. Fields with an * are mandatory. Incomplete forms will be returned, causing a delay in purchase.

School Name* Module name Module code*

Lecturer’s name* Lecturer’s contact details*

(e-mail, extension or other phone number)

Module co-ordinator’s name

(where known)

Year/Level* Programme Name Expected nos. of students*

Semester/s taught in*

(Please tick relevant option) 1 2 Both

Undergraduate course

(please tick)

Postgraduate course

(please tick)

TARGETED FUND FOR READING LISTS 2009-10•All requests for new resources on your 2009/2010 reading lists MUST be entered on this application form.•If you already have a reading list prepared, please attach it when returning this application form.•To ensure that the material is ordered and invoiced in this financial year, these forms must be returned by the 22nd May 2009. Due to budgetary constraints, where forms are received after 22nd May we cannot guarantee the material will be purchased.

Author Title Year Publisher ISBN For Office use only

1

2

3

4

5

Part 2. Book DetailsPlease list by category, and in order of priority. Note: It may not be possible to purchase all materials

1. Mandatory Textbook – refers to a textbook formally proposed to the students as the one you would recommend for purchase if possible. i.e. core reading for the module

2. Essential Reading – refers to more specialized reading on top of any mandatory textbooks that you regard as fundamental for adequate study of the module

Author Title Year Publisher ISBN For Office

use only

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Author Title Year Publisher ISBN For Office

use only

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

3. Additional background reading – refers to books which amplify the scope and depth of the course but are not required reading

Changes in 2009Academic Services

• Change in work practices for support staff and Liaison Librarians

• Traceability create new order form each school has one targeted fund solely for

Reading List

• Amount allocated = total cost of orders requested by School Academics. Move away from FTE model

Changes in 2009Technical Services

Acquisitions

• Ring fenced funds – no wiggle room!

• Bulk ordering

• Online ordering (Humanities and Social Sciences)

• Everyone becomes an accountant!!

• Priority given to Reading List Targeted Funds

Cataloguing

• Priority given to Reading Lists

• Enhanced communication with Academic Services

• Continued use of shelf-ready process

• No change in level of resource description

Review 2010

• More centralised approach

• Enhanced communication with academic community Need more

consistency

• Statistics 15% of 4997 offered

modules

Accurate record

• Identify exact amount spent on reading lists material

• Online ordering

• Prioritisation Semester 1 & 2

• Deadline for academics

• Ordering– one library one system Form Process

Total Reading Lists Received

Total Modules Offered

Arts & Celtic Studies213 980 22%

Business & Law117 1089 11%

Engineering, Mathematical & Physical Sciences

90 770 12%Human Sciences

207 849 24%Life Sciences

213 1309 16%

TOTAL 766 4997 15%

Total 475% difference

Report 2010Recommended Changes

• Revised Targeted Reading List order form Online web form

• Timelines

• Guidelines for Liaison Librarians How to target academic community Number of copies, collections etc.

• More changes to fund management

• Online ordering

• Strict statistical record keeping for future reviews

• Continual Review

Conclusions• Wider university context

VLE, Registry etc., student demands

• Enhanced Transparency / Accountability via Annual Reporting

• Some changes developmental (which we would have probably made anyway)

• Some changes due to changed economic circumstances

• Origin of change not important – changes themselves very successful.

• Highlighted areas ripe for reform.

• More work to do, for liaison staff and technical staff

• More efficient, more transparent

What if we are 100% successful?...

……and get 4997 reading lists!!!!