How We Work With Your List
When we receive your reading list, we take a number of things into consideration before making any purchases. Firstly, we examine the estimated number of students on the module. We also consider whether the item is being used for other modules. We use a purchasing ratio (listed below). For us to be able to make the right decisions, it is necessary for you to tell us how important the item is for those taking the module. For example, is it a core reading to be used over multiple weeks or is it a suggested source to be used for a particular essay question? We have four categories that we use for our purchasing decisions. They are as follows:
- Essential Reading: We try to purchase one copy for every ten students with copies split between the Core and Main Collections
- Recommended Reading: We try to purchase one copy for every twenty students taking the module. All copies will be short loan.
- Further/Background Reading: As with books ordered for your own research, we will maintain a stock of one or two copies.
- Student Purchase: If you want students to buy a particular book then we will stock a minimal number of copies in the Library.
Submission Dates for Reading Lists
The time taken for us to acquire new items for the Library can vary consideraby. For this reason, it is essential that we receive your reading list in good time, so that the books and other items will be available for your students in good time. Our ideal dates for the latest submisison of reading lists are as follows:
For modules running in Teaching Period 1 (September-December, 2013): 1st July, 2013
For modules running in Teaching Period 2 (January-April, 2014): 1st October, 2013
E-books
The availability of quality e-books, across all subject areas, is increasing all the time as take up in academic libraries grows. Thousands of titles are now available and the cost is often comparable to print so we are keen to develop our collection further and improve students’ experience. Where available, we will purchase e-books for core reading, for courses with large student numbers or those for which students have placements. All e-books are made available via the Library catalogue and can therefore be linked to from resource lists.
Out of print books
Be aware that out of print copies in good condition can be difficult to source with resultant delays. If they are core or recommended reading for your course, we will endeavour to obtain at least a single copy of these titles and place the item(s) in the Core Collection. If further copies are required we will need to work with you to find a solution.