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Reading Lists for staff

Information about creating Reading Lists

Announcing our new library system

The library has some good news!

We have been working hard to bring you a new version of NELSON and Reading Lists, with lots of great features and useful tools. We have help guides for members of staff and for students with key dates you should know, a timeline of what will be happening that might affect you, actions you should take and where you can get help.

There will be lots of benefits, after a short period of disruption, that will make using the library even easier and we are excited to show you all the great features as we go live in the period after 12th July.

Requesting items for Library stock

  • If you add an item to a Talis Aspire reading list, the Reading List team will automatically check the edition, quantity in stock and ensure that there are sufficient copies available either electronically or print, depending on availability.

  • You can also email readinglists@northampton.ac.uk with your request, letting the team know your module student numbers and which module the item is for.

  • If you prefer, you can contact your Academic Librarian. This route is particularly useful if you know the resource is core for your module.

Setting up an online Reading List

Academic staff at the University of Northampton can set up online reading lists using the Talis Aspire software. There are significant benefits to setting up an online reading list, for both academic staff and students, including:

  • Linking directly through to the full text of electronic books and electronic articles.
  • Linking directly to information on the location of print stock and real-time details of its availability.
  • Integration into NILE modules, either at list level or at list section level, enabling you to weave your weekly or thematic readings alongside your teaching material.
  • Content added to an Aspire online reading list is automatically reviewed by the Reading List team for purchase. When you set up an Aspire reading list, you are asked for module numbers and this enables the right licence type or print quantities to be purchased.
  • If you need a key book chapter or article digitised, that is not already available electronically, we may be able to provide a digital copy and add it to your reading list. See Digitisation.
  • Using Aspire, Library and Learning Services can identify high demand texts across multiple modules, enabling us to buy additional resources to help alleviate pressure points. 

Support from Library and Learning Services

  • The Academic Librarians run training sessions on using the Talis Aspire software. Dates for forthcoming Aspire workshops are publicised on this page, but you can also contact your Academic Librarian to arrange an individual or team training session at a time to suit your convenience.

  • If you have a brief query about using the Talis Aspire software, you can also email readinglists@northampton