Reading Lists: Academics: Submitting Lists

If you would like the library to create or update an online reading list for you, please submit it as a Word document using our new Reading List Submission Form.

Reading Lists @ Gold is an online system of communicating reading list requirements to students.

The online reading lists link students directly to the resources required for their modules, giving them quicker, easier access to the materials they need. Feedback also indicates that direct access to resources via online reading lists assists students with referencing material for assignments.

The online reading list service:

• Provides easy access to resources, and improves student experience
• Supports Goldsmiths’ commitment to equality by making resources accessible
• Supports teaching and learning by ensuring students can identify and access essential resources
• Communicates which resources are essential: if not already accessible online, the Library will purchase online resources or digitise print materials wherever possible.

Submit any lists required for Autumn Term 2024 using our Reading List Submission Form. Please submit lists as early as possible to allow time for orders to be placed and digitisations to be processed. We receive a large number of Spring lists, so the earlier you can send them in, the better!

The deadline for Autumn Term reading list submissions is (ideally) by 15th July 2024, with June/July 2024 the optimum time for submissions.

To ensure we can process submitted lists efficiently:

1. Save the reading list as a Word document (one document for the whole term or module course), with any changes to an existing reading list highlighted or tracked. Send the Word document to the Library using our Reading List Submission Form.
2. Provide the current module code, title, term(s) the module is running and estimated student numbers (required for embedding in the VLE and purchasing decisions).
3. Provide a contact name and email address in case we have any queries relating to readings.
4. Mark the importance of each item/section of resources on the list as Essential, Recommended, or Further Reading. This helps students to prioritise their work and the library to obtain any Essential and Recommended resources not already held.
5. Select book chapters for essential readings instead of whole books, especially if the title is not available as an ebook. Generally, the Library can digitise one chapter or 10% of a print book, whichever is greater.
6. Provide full references for readings/resources (including chapter details and page ranges for chapters/extracts).

Reading Lists @ Gold requires you to choose between three levels of importance for a resource: Essential, Recommended, or Further Reading:

• Essential: Usually around 10-20 resources per list you expect students to consult that are accessible online, either via the Library or Open Access
• Recommended: 20-30 resources per list you would encourage students to consult
• Further: Resources you would suggest for deepening understanding

Marking the importance of your resources:

• Allows students to prioritise their work, so that they can engage in class more effectively
• Tells the library which resources are Essential and Recommended. All Essential items and Recommended* books will be purchased as required. (*Where the number of books on the reading list exceeds the suggested number of essential or recommended items, the library may not purchase all items and will prioritise purchasing essential items.)
• Essential chapters and articles will be digitised where possible if not already available electronically. Our copyright licence allows us to scan one chapter or 10% from a book, or one article from a journal issue.

Particularly if the reading list is a long one, students might not be expected to access every resource. Marking an item as ‘Essential’ will make it clear to the student that they need to engage with this material in order to succeed in class.

Please link your list to the VLE, learn.gold, as this enables students to access resources directly via the module page. See our guide on linking lists to the VLE for more details.

If you have any suggestions for Reading Lists @ Gold, we would love to hear it.

Contact us at readinglists@gold.ac.uk