Library staff are on hand to help support staff who wish to create their own list. Details of online and in-person training sessions are regularly posted on PDMS. If you're unable to join us and would like a separate training session please contact us.

Step-by-step instructions are below, along with some videos explaining how to use the different features.

If you have any further questions or would like help with particular aspects of the service please let us know.

Adding a Reading List in Moodle

Log into your Moodle dashboard and toggle Edit mode on using the button in the top right corner. This button is labelled Edit mode and can be switched on or off.

Check the left-hand menu to see if a Reading List has already been created.

• If it has, click on it to open the list.

• If it hasn’t, click Add an activity or resource, then select Reading List from the options.

Adding Items

To add new resources within a reading list, use the Add button located at the top left of the screen. You can choose from several methods:

By Search (Recommended)

This is the best method, as it ensures that any necessary authentication information is included in the link.

1. Click the blue Add button at the top left of the screen.

2. Select Search the Library.

3. Search for the item you want to add. This method works for most books held by the library, as well as many journal articles and book chapters.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions to add the item to your list.

5. Add a tag to indicate the importance of the text (Required, Recommended or Additional) -  this helps the Library ensure availability.

Using DOI or ISBN

You can also add items by entering a DOI or ISBN when the item is available through the library.
This is often the quickest way to add an item, and works similarly to the search method.

Using Favourites

You can save items to your Favourites list for easy reuse:

• Add items to your favourites either through the reading list interface (as above) or directly via the library catalogue.

• To do this, click on the item’s title in the catalogue. Once signed in, click Send to Reading Lists, then select Add to Reading Lists.

Your favourites can be accessed from the left-hand side of the reading list page.

To add an item from your favourites to a list, click the three-dot menu at the end of the line and select Add to list.

Using the Bookmarklet Tool

This method is best for adding items not found in the library catalogue, such as webpages.
Note: This tool does not always include correct authentication details, so should be used sparingly — mainly for resources like books that we don't have but you can find on Amazon, or journal articles not listed in the catalogue, or free web content.

To install the bookmarklet:

1. Click the cogwheel icon (Settings) at the top right of the screen.

2. Choose Cite It!

3. Ignore the browser extension and select Bookmarklet.

4. Follow the instructions to install it on your browser’s toolbar.

Once installed, you can use the bookmarklet to add external content (e.g. books from Amazon) that you’d like the Library to consider purchasing.

Moving Items

To rearrange items within your reading list:

• Hover over an item to reveal the drag handle.

• Use this handle to drag and drop the item to a new position in the list.

Moving Sections

To move entire sections:

1. If you don't see drag handles next to the section titles, click Manage sections at the top of the page.

2. Once enabled, you can use these handles to drag and drop sections to a different part of the list.

Adding a Note for Students

You can add instructions or guidance for your students on individual items in your reading list — for example:
“Read Chapter 1” or “This is a useful introduction to the topic.”

1. Click on the book/article title or cover image.

2. In the Note for students section, type your message.
   Your note will be saved automatically.

3. Click on the item title again to close the editing view.

Requesting Digitisation for a Print-Only Item

If an item is only available in print, it may be possible to request a digital copy of a chapter or article.

1. Click on the book/article title or cover image

2. If digitisation is available, you’ll see an option to Request digitisation — follow the onscreen steps to submit your request.

and then at the bottom of the screen choose Request digitization:

Adding a Comment for Library Staff

If you'd like to leave a comment for Library staff — for example, to request a purchase or provide additional information about an item:

1. Click Edit item on the resource.

2. Select the Library discussion tab.

3. Enter your comment in the box provided.

Submitting Your Reading List

Once you've finished creating your list:

1. Click My list is ready at the top right of the screen.

2. Tick the box ‘Also publish the list to students’ — unless you specifically do not want students to see the list yet.

3. Your list will be sent to the Reading List team for review. We will get in touch by email if there are any issues.

Tip: While we will contact you by email if needed, you can also check for updates by clicking the bell notification icon at the top right of the screen.