All module reading lists should be created and managed using the Reading List Service, powered by Ex Libris Leganto, as per Principle 5 of the University’s Guidelines on Best Practice in Blended learning. Leganto is fully integrated with MyLearningSpace, LibrarySearch, and our Library Management System (Alma), ensuring that we meet our commitment to provide inclusive and accessible resources for all students.
Why use the reading list service?
By using this service, you're not only complying with the university's requirements on inclusive and accessible learning resources, but helping to realise several key benefits related to teaching, learning, and the student experience:
Benefits of using Leganto
- Easy access for students: students can access their reading lists directly via MyLearningSpace, ensuring they have all their required readings in one convenient location.
- Consistent format across modules: by using a standardised system, students benefit from a consistent experience across all their modules, reducing confusion and improving their ability to access and utilise curated reading materials effectively.
- Reliable access to resources: Leganto provides permanent, stable, and authenticated hyperlinks to books, articles, websites, and other resources. This ensures that Library Services can manage resources efficiently and resolve any access issues in a timely manner, providing consistent access for students and eliminating the frustration of dead links. This makes it easier for students to find and use the learning resources they need, both on and off campus.
- Usage reporting and engagement: using library authenticated links within Leganto not only reduces any barriers to access, it also ensures that we are recording full usage statistics for resources; this is especially important for renewing subscription services. In addition, Leganto provides analytics which can help to measure student engagement.
- Improved Library collection management: the library can better manage its online collections, ensuring that the resources students need are available when they need them, and in the most appropriate format.
- Integrated system processes and practices: the Leganto rollover process is run directly after the MyLearningSpace module rollover ensuring that all reading lists are copied and associated with the correct module instance. Using Leganto to manage your reading list also supports the University Digital Strategy not only optimising workflows but providing an accessible, inclusive, and consistent user experience.
Our commitment
Library Services are committed to supporting you and your students with reading lists by:
- Managing the Leganto service and its integrations with MyLearningSpace and Library systems.
- Prioritising the purchase of electronic copies of all content listed on Leganto, over print. This e-first acquisition approach ensures 24/7 access on and off-campus, usually to multiple users simultaneously and is as per Principle 5 of the University’s Guidelines on Best Practice in Blended learning.
- Purchasing materials in appropriate formats and quantities based on the reading list, student cohort numbers and delivery model.
- Providing copyright-compliant digitisation of book chapters and articles where possible.
- Offering support and guidance on using the system effectively.
- Regularly reviewing and updating our services based on user feedback.
Important note: Please remember that not all titles are available in an electronic format that can be purchased for institutional use and in those cases, you will be required to provide alternatives. There will also be occasions where there is a clearly communicated expectation that students should purchase a personal copy of a core text.
Your responsibilities
As a module tutor, you play a crucial role in ensuring the effectiveness of reading lists by ensuring that you:
- Create and maintain up-to-date, accurate reading lists in Leganto well before the module start date.
- Use standard categories (Essential, Recommended, Further) consistently when classifying resources. Ensuring citations are correctly tagged not only helps Library acquisition workflows, it benefits students in allowing them to prioritising their reading and manage their time more effectively.
- Review and update your lists regularly, checking for new editions and ensuring alignment with MyLearningSpace or Canvas content.
- Consider the balance and diversity of sources in your list.
- Ensure licensing and copyright compliance by using the Library's scanning service rather than uploading PDFs directly to MyLearningSpace or Canvas. For more on why this matters — and what to do instead — see our Uploading PDFs to the VLE guidance.
- Create and manage all reading lists using Leganto and the best practice laid out in the Reading List Service - ensuring seamless integration with the VLE and all of the associated benefits this brings to all stakeholders.
- Guide students on effective use of the reading list, including any expectations for purchasing personal copies of core texts.
- Provide feedback on the Reading List Service to help Library Services continually improve.
- Collaborate with library staff in a timely manner when facing issues with resource availability or when there is a need to investigate alternative provision.
- Be mindful that not all titles are available in a suitable format when you are planning your list - if something cannot be provided on a multi-user ebook license, then it would not be suitable as the Essential text for the module (but could be utilised as Further reading)
For detailed guidance on creating effective reading lists, including tips on source selection and list structure, check our Best Practice Guidelines.
How it works: The Reading List Process
Understanding the full process of creating and managing reading lists can help you use the service more effectively:
- Create or update your list: use Leganto to build or modify your reading list, adding resources as needed in a timely manner.
- Use standard categories: Classify the importance of your resources by tagging them as Essential, Recommended, or Further reading (more on these categories below).
- Library processing: we'll check availability of new items added to lists , purchase new items where available, discuss alternatives, or let you know of any potential access issues. The Library will purchase new titles on an e-first basis - subject to availability and affordability.
- Student access: students can then access the completed list via MyLearningSpace after they've enrolled on the module.
Need a book chapter or article scanned? Learn about our scanning service and CLA requests. This service allows us to provide copyright-compliant digital copies of a % of some print materials, enhancing accessibility for your students.
Getting started: creating your reading list
Follow these steps to create your reading list:
- Log in to MyLearningSpace
- Navigate to your module
- Click on the 'Reading List' tile
- Start creating or updating your list
For a more detailed walkthrough, please refer to our online guide. This provides step-by-step instructions on navigating the Leganto interface, adding items to your list, and organising your resources effectively.
If you need further assistance, don't hesitate to contact us via library@abertay.ac.uk We can provide one-on-one support and guidance tailored to your specific needs or group sessions for module and programme teams.
Understanding reading list categories
To help students prioritise their reading and to guide our resource acquisition, we use three standard 'tags' in Leganto to categorise importance:
- Essential: core materials that students must read to successfully complete the module; typically a small number of key texts.
This category also covers any titles students are advised to purchase by the programme or module team. If required, please also add the additional tag 'student purchase advised'. - Recommended: supplementary materials that students should read to deepen their understanding and enhance their performance.
- Further: additional materials that students could read for a more comprehensive grasp of the subject or to explore specific areas of interest.
Using these categories consistently helps students manage their workload and allows the library to ensure appropriate availability of core texts.
Timelines for new resources
When planning your reading list, consider these typical timelines for acquiring new resources and remember that not all titles will necessarily be available as multi-user e-books:
- Ebooks: usually available within 2 working days of ordering
- Digitised book chapters or journal articles: within 5 working days of ordering
- Print books: on average 2-3 weeks (may be longer)
- Note: not all texts will be available in a suitable or affordable format for purchase.
We will endeavour to keep to these timelines, but please be aware that at busy times of the year and where stock availability is low or titles are out of print, these can take longer. For the best results, create or update your lists well before the module start date.
Frequently asked questions
As you start using the Reading List Service, you may have some questions. We've compiled answers to some of the most common queries below. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please don't hesitate to contact the library team for further assistance at: library@abertay.ac.uk
What if I need to make changes to my list after the deadline?
You can update your list at any time and changes will be immediately visible to students. However, be aware that last-minute changes may result in delays in resource availability if an acquisition needs to be made.
How many items should I include in my reading list?
This can vary depending on the module, but as a general guide, aim for 1-2 essential texts, 5-10 recommended readings, and additional further reading as appropriate.
Can students suggest additions to the reading list?
Whilst the reading list is primarily your responsibility, encouraging student input can be valuable. Consider incorporating a mechanism for student suggestions in your module design.
What if there is no requirement for a Reading List?
In some unique cases, modules may run without the need for a supporting reading list. For example, some placement modules.
Please contact us at library@abertay.ac.uk to let us know that your module doesn't need a reading list so that we can ensure our systems and processes reflect this and blank lists are not created during rollover.
Remember, it is standard for taught Abertay modules to have a supporting reading list so please contact the Library to discuss this further. Please also get in touch if your module has changed semester since it was set up and those changes aren't reflected in Leganto for you.
Last modified by Library Services