Reading List Strategy
The University of Warwick and Talis Aspire
Talis Aspire has been used by the University of Warwick since 2013 as the official platform for the management and publication of reading lists.
The Library works continuously to drive engagement with Talis Aspire and to provide up-to-date information and guidance for academic staff in using it.
The inclusion of Learning Resources as a metric in subject level TEF increases the importance of providing electronic reading lists. Uptake of Talis Aspire across departments enables the University to deliver, and to demonstrate, a consistent and student-focussed approach to the provision of core readings.
The Student Experience
- Reading Lists for students are crucial to the University’s Education Strategy and enhancing the student experience.
- They are important to our students’ learning and development and they facilitate the Library’s provision of excellent resources for student needs.
- Using Talis Aspire for reading lists across all modules and departments ensures equality and consistency of access to resources.
Effective Acquisition of Resources
- The Library's Collections Policy guides purchasing decisions for reading lists
- Demand Driven Acquisition (DDA) is used for some ebook purchases and reports for ebook turnaways and high-demand holds for print are monitored, ensuring the right resources are available when they are needed most
- Tools like PowerBI allow the Library to make data-driven purchasing decisions through better understanding of how users engage with reading lists and resources
Ongoing User Experience Work
- The Library invites both academic and student users to participate in focus groups to share their experiences and feedback using the Talis Aspire platform
- These sessions help identify strengths within the reading list service, as well as areas for improvement and any training needs
- By better understanding our users' expectations for, and experience of, the reading lists, the Library can continue to refine our services to benefit all users and drive future engagement with these services
Driving User Engagement
- Understanding the needs of our different users is essential for empowering them to get the most out of their online reading lists through clear guidance and training
- The Library offers teaching staff training year-round to support users in creating and maintaining their own lists
- Inputting support for those looking to create new lists, or to migrate existing ones from elsewhere (such as Moodle, sitebuilder or My.WBS)