Reading lists: a guide for academics: Adding items

The bookmarking tool saves time by automatically completing the metadata fields (title, author etc.) in the new items form in Talis Aspire.

Additional guidance

• The video demonstrates adding an e-book to a reading list using the bookmarking tool. See our guidance here for adding the tool if you haven't done so already.
• The bookmarking tool works just the same for adding journal articles and websites as it does for print books and e-books.
• All you need to do is find the item you want to add, and then click the bookmarks tool in your bookmarks bar on your browser.
• For books (print and electronic) we recommend bookmarking the item on the library catalogue. That way the catalogue record will be linked to your list.
• If we don't have an item on the catalogue, just find a record for the book elsewhere (e.g. Amazon or the publisher's site) and use the bookmarking tool in the same way. Faculty Library Teams will consider those items for purchase when the list is sent to review.
• For a journal article or any other document hosted online go either directly to the article or to the summary page.

1. Find the item that you would like to add to your list. The page that you bookmark will be the page students are directed to, so it's important to select the best option:
• For books (print and electronic) we recommend bookmarking the item on the library catalogue. That way the catalogue record will be linked to your list.
• If we don't have a copy of a book on the catalogue just find a record for the book somewhere online (e.g. on Amazon or the publisher's website). Library staff will consider the title for purchase when the list goes to the library for review.
• For a journal article or any other document hosted online go either directly to the article or to the summary page (as in the example image here).
2. Once you're happy you've found the appropriate page, click on the 'Add to My Bookmarks' tool button.

3. This will open up a page in Talis Aspire which is split in two. On the left will be a form which should be pre-populated with the item details. On the right will be a preview of the item so you can easily check whether the details are correct. Note that the preview only appears if the host website has settings enabled to allow it. In this example there is no preview.
4. Make any necessary changes by editing the fields or adding new ones. Once you're happy click on 'Create'.

5. Go to your reading list and click 'Add a resource'. This option will appear when you hover your cursor over the part of the list you would like the item to be added.

6. A list of recently bookmarked items will appear, with the most recent on top. You can also search for previously bookmarked items. Click on the item and it will be added to your list.

If an item isn't available to bookmark on the web (e.g. obscure, out of print publications or websites that just don't allow it) then it's possible to create an item manually. Wherever possible use the bookmarking tool, which not only fills in item metadata automatically, it also increases the chances of students being able to locate the item and enables other system functionality including library holdings and acquisitions functionality.

To add items manually, follow these steps:

1. Click on the 'My Bookmarks' tab, click on 'Add' and then 'Add manually'

2. Read the guidance on the right hand side of the page.
3. Ensure the correct 'Resource Type' is selected in the 'Resource Type' metadata field. A video from LinkedIn Learning for example would be classified under 'Audio-visual document'.
4. If adding an article or book chapter, ensure the 'Part of (book, journal, etc.)' field is added. This will add a tab where details of the host publication can be added.
5. Create and complete as many metadata fields as possible to help library staff and students identify the publication. A video from LinkedIn Learning, for example, would need a 'Title' and 'Web address'.
6. For online resources, click the box at the bottom next to 'Online Resource:'. This will ensure the 'View Online' link is added to the reading list.
7. Once satisfied that all the information needed has been recorded, click on 'Create'.

The item will be available to add to your reading list in the usual way (see steps 5 and 6 in the 'Using the bookmarking tool' section above).