A Reading List Revolution (down the Long & Winding Road) Presentation by Eleanor Johnston, Academic Skills Librarian at Staffordshire University Reading lists Re-visited NoWAL Event, 25th February 2014

1. A Reading List Revolution (down the Long & Winding Road)
Presentation by Eleanor Johnston, Academic Skills Librarian at Staffordshire University
Reading lists Re-visited NoWAL Event, 25th February 2014
What is Rebus and how did we get Involved?
Rebus is a reading list product from PTFS, who have previously supplied Staffordshire
University with Koha, open source library management system software. We looked for
online Reading List software because the students expect there to be a modern online
solution that matches their way of working.
We had no reading list software and looked at the products on the market via demos, liaison
and trials.
We had a good relationship with PTFS and they were keen to get institutions on board and
we agreed to use Rebus in 2012. As early adopters of Rebus, the University were offered the
first version of the product at a reduced cost.
Starting from scratch
Staffordshire University library had no policy on lecturers giving us reading lists or on our
purchases being dependent on reading list usage. Lists were previously on word documents,
Blackboard or in Handbooks. There was little consistency between courses or lecturers.
We expected the rollout to be like the Blackboard VLE implementation experience, i.e. it
wasn’t immediately adopted by everyone but staff and students then started seeing the
convenience of it. There has been no mandatory policy for usage, as experience has shown
that if lecturers are forced to do something, some of them react against it, and we did not
want to offer a crude tool where lecturers would become disillusioned and would not
engage with the product.
We decided to:
Learn how to use it
Demo and pilot it to convince lecturers of the ease and benefits
Arrange training sessions for interested staff (needed a support strategy)
Checks on progress and continued support and review on uptake of Rebus:list / lessons
learnt and how to take it forward.
Enhancements to the product were needed to achieve the above
Learning
The first thing we did was to learn how to add structures, organisational groups, lecturers
and modules. We then found out about permissions and adding items.
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014

2. We started by learning how to add items ourselves to test the product. The product was in
its early developmental stages and it was important to make the process as easy as possible
for lecturers, as there appeared to be quite a lot of manual inputting required. We also had
to set up every lecturer and module onto the system (there was no auto import), so best to
do the back end admin stuff before lecturers started grappling with everything else.
Pilot
We decided to learn how to do things before we went to train others, so started with a pilot
of us doing everything for lists from History and International relations. We contacted the
lecturers and asked for their names, module codes and reading lists.
It transpired that these schools had lists with hundreds of items on – It meant that we were
spending many hours putting these lists on. They had obviously been put together over a
number of years and added to each year. They were mostly books (some quite old), with
very few websites and recent journal articles. So of course this adoption of a bit of software
leads to lots of questions regarding the choices of items – put everything on a list? Give
topics and essential reading only etc? These questions unfortunately I do not have the
answers to in this workshop!
So we can safely conclude that we could not do it for the lecturers – it leads to reliance
which we cannot resource.
First trial
PGCHPE trial – we demoed Rebus online reading lists to attendees on the PGCHPE course in
January 2013 (many are lecturers at the University) for the following reasons:
These use reading lists – get them converted to REBUS
Practitioner teaching staff will have experience of using them
More likely to adopt practice and promote use to students
50% of teaching staff will have to have had professional recognition from HEA or
PGCHPE by 2017
I ran the live demo and then asked the PGCHPErs if they would be interested in having the
reading lists on their teaching modules - 10 wanted further training.
So we started setting up 1-2-1s with lecturers and they started learning how to add items.
We promised to help them with their first lists and with anything they may struggle with, via
email, phone or a further 1-2-1.
Another selling point was that once a list was created, the unique URL of a modular reading
list could go straight into Blackboard, our VLE that all lecturers and staff use.
This was much more successful than the pilot!
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014

3. Champions
Then subject librarians were trained. This was fairly straightforward, and most were
confident enough at least to accompany me to sessions with their subject staff at first, and
then confident enough in the future to add lecturers and modules onto the system and run
training. Some did not have enough interaction with the system and therefore passed back
requests as they had forgotten how to do things, which I was happy to help out with.
A small number of lecturer ‘champions’ then took up the opportunity to use Rebus, who had
1-2-1 sessions and started creating their own lists. This was based on those lecturers the
service knew were early adopters of new technologies and developments. I am sure your
institution has enthusiasts too!
Promotion
Online reading list training included group sign ups, workshops to get lecturers started with
their first lists, presentations and poster promos. Word of mouth recommendations also
started to come in – by visiting lecturers and having 1-2-1s, we got out into their offices and
buildings, and this stirred interest in other academics in their faculties. We also made a little
demo film via Camtasia to help students access their lists, and that is on the main Rebus
search page for Staffordshire University.
There were also quite a number of admin staff from faculties who were interested in Rebus.
We hope that there will also be student pressure on lecturers who do not have lists online!
Offshoots of liaison
There were loads of questions about all aspects of the library service, the lecturers were not
bothered what the staff were promoting or teaching on, they just wanted answers to their
questions! Mentioning Bob nearly always led to a live demo of Box of Broadcasts.
Each department would have a different take on how they best wanted Rebus to work for
them. For example, law wanted texts and cases to be default global category headings, but
this was not appropriate for other faculties.
Lecturers were also likely to ask very specific questions regarding their budgets for
resources, and so we had to be very aware of the Collection Development Policy.
Getting all the up to date lists from lecturers definitely encourages the library to get
material, as the acquisition of lists reveals new editions, items we do not have in stock and
encourages lecturer feedback about the library, its resources and our service.
Progress
350 modules have been set up, but not all have been published for students yet.
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014

4. No detail at present (too early to say) about level of resource use – has it increased? For e
items? All items?
Upgrades were made to Rebus in June 2013 and January 2014. The selection process to
ensure the most ‘in demand’ was via a vote by institutions that had the product. Some of
the early stumbling blocks and glitches were tidied up, e.g. being able to press enter to
select, block tagging items, pop ups blocking when opening ebooks etc etc.
Live demo –
This is where you can see the product in action, firstly what the students see, then what
lecturers can see.
Every from anywhere can view these lists, so feel free to take a look at what we have done
so far.
http://staffs.rebuslist.com
Any e-resources / ebooks require Athens authentication to access, you cannot log into
lecturer view as it is for administrators.
Student view:
Search by tutor name, keyword, faculty, module etc.
show URL at the top – URLs can then go anywhere (principally BB)
Staff view:
Adding, editing, moving items, adding tags, moving items between lists
We can order anything – many lecturers prefer e-books, because many courses are distance
learning are these seem to be the most popular modules going on the system as present.
Once trained by us, the lecturers take responsibility for editing and updating their lists.
What needs improving
Manual input of e-journals and articles is cumbersome and slow, ideally we would like a link
to Summon or some sort of auto import.
Lecturers currently have to let us know about new modules or additional lecturers and we
would like them to take more ownership on the admin side, but this requires changes to
permissions and technical issues.
We would obviously like more use across the university – so more promotion, getting
‘champions’ who are positive about the product. Bear in mind resistance remains as there
are still lots of laborious bits (yes, the manual input).
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014

5. We have no web developer here, but some staff at Swansea and Sheffield have been adding
code and making things easier.
When it is very smooth, perhaps lobby for use throughout the University? I feel we need a
bit more time to make things as easy as possible, but some institutions really jumped in and
made the system mandatory very quickly, e.g. Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
Availability issues- we would really like a link up of the Koha acquisitions system, budget
codes, ordering etc. If resources are not in stock, lecturers are immediately aware, which
can prompt a request to the library, but there no automatic flag.
Things we have learned
Do not accept responsibility to do the adding – teach and pass on the skills!
Expected the unexpected in terms of lecturer questions (they are just happy for someone to
come to them)
Things always take longer than expected and the first version requires a lot of work to get it
as easy to use as possible. Yes, we all know this, but it is always seems a surprise every time
it happens!
Do not offer any product that requires (much) additional work – lecturers will not want that
Sell the benefits! Easy to update, great for student access etc etc.
What happens next
Further linking to the University strategic objective via the implementation of ‘The
Staffordshire Graduate’. This is a coherent set of skills, attributes and capabilities necessary
for success in the 21st Century, including the attribute to be technologically, digitally and
information literate. Students expect all their resources in one place (which they are with
Rebus and the link into Blackboard) and we have evidence of Rebus actually promoting
additional reading and resource use:
“Whilst it could be argued that the provision of all reading on one webpage could impact on student
skills to source material themselves, once this has been developed, it frees up students so that they
are able to devote more time to reading the resources and to follow the links.
Students found wider documents – it actually increased student research skills, rather than
detracting from this. It is counter-intuitive, but once the core search skills are obtained, the free time
enables students to develop and expand on the core literature highlighted on reading lists.
The overwhelming feedback from staff and students is for more online reading lists”
Kris Lines, Senior Lecturer, Director - Centre for International Sports Law (CISL), Staffordshire
University
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014

6. Photo sources for the Prezi Presentation:
In the beginning, Photo by Shahrokh Hatam. Available from http://www.shahrokhhatami.com/?projects=the-beatles
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accessed 17 February 2014
The Long and Winding Road. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Apple Corps, Ltd. Available from:
th
http://www.dermon.com/Beatles/Picslv_68_70.htm accessed 17 February 2014
Take these broken wings and learn to fly. Pinned by Melissa Harris Available from http://vuible.com/pin/take-theseth
broken-wings-and-learn-to-fly/ accessed 17 February 2014
First Trial. Apple vs Apple from Fashionlaptop. Available from: http://fashionlaptop.wordpress.com/2011/01/19/applesth
profits-revenue-hit-records-so-do-iphone-ipads-mac/ accessed 17 February 2014
Champions. Image from Ezio Gentile's book The Beatles in Comic Strips. Available from
th
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http://dailyglean.salebooks.com/2012/08/beatles-covers-squared.html accessed 17 February 2014 accessed 17
February 2014
Revolution Image 1. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Apple Corps, Ltd. Available from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Revolutionsheet.jpg accessed 17th February 2014
Revolution Image 2. Development Matters from Staff Fest 2013 available from
https://www.staffs.ac.uk/support_depts/cpd/ accessed 17th February 2014
Revolution Image 3. ‘Join the Reading List Revolution’ Poster designed by Create at Staffordshire University from a concept
by Nikki Johnson and Eleanor Johnston.
Revolution Image 3. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Apple Corps, Ltd. Available from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MagicalMysteryTourDoubleEPcover.jpg accessed 17th February 2014
Progress. Love me Do – Beatles Progress book cover image from the text by Michael Braun. Available from:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Me-Do-Beatles-Progress/dp/0140022783 accessed 17th February 2014
Live Demo. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Apple Corps, Ltd. Available from:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/the-beatles/6150347/The-Beatles-Help-review.html accessed 17th February
2014
What needs improving? Getting Better. The cover art copyright is believed to belong to Apple Corps, Ltd. Available from:
http://www.rankopedia.com/The-Beatles'-Most-Underrated-Song/Step1/19462/.htm accessed 17th February 2014
Things we have learned. 'Life Lessons I've Learned From The Beatles' book cover image from the text by Jack Rodney
available from http://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Learned-From-Beatles/dp/1434844609 accessed 17th February 2014
What happens next. Tomorrow Never Knows image available from https://liveatnectars.com/event/tomorrow-neverknows/ accessed 17th February 2014
Thanks. Image enhanced by Melbie Toast available from http://melbietoast.tumblr.com/post/1604282883/and-in-the-endthe-love-you-take-is-equal-to accessed 17th February 2014
Eleanor Johnston
February 2014