Introducing a reading list solution: RGU’s experienceMichelle Anderson, RGU

Student perspective

Questions arising from survey data

Consistency of experience (NSS: 95%+, sub 80%);

Equivalence of experience (DSB).

Student expectations

Quality of Reading lists

Resource discovery

Availability & format of materials

Experience at point of access

Reading lists and students Discussion with our students show they are frustrated

when reading lists:

Contain material not available in the library Only include print books and nothing else List out of date books Provide no context or guidance Have difficult to access material Do not exist for their module

This leads to a poor learning experience for students, problems for staff, and is detrimental to the student’s interaction with the library service.

Strategic priorities

Priorities

Growth through online distance learning and corporate programmes (international, niche markets);

Ensuring a consistent and high quality student experience;

More inclusive practice.

Leadership challenge

STaRS (Watkins, 2003)Start Up Turnaround

Realignment Sustaining Success

RealignmentHow to revitalise the service? Challenges

Strong cultural norms Building a case for change

Opportunities Significant strengths Colleagues care about the

customer experience and want the library to be a success

How do these factors align?

Mitigate risks associated with growth through ODL & differential experience

for ODL students accessing reading

material

Student expectations of access to reading materials

Leadership

challenge: A

driver around

which to build

the need for

change

Effective business partnering

Effective business partnering in the context of the library

Successful, long term, strategic relationships between the library and faculty.

Understanding faculty strategy and approaches, identifying how the library service may support delivery;

Providing intelligence to inform enhancement across other areas of library service delivery;

Library colleagues as trusted and valued partners.

Why adopt a reading list solution?

An opportunity to enhance faculty/library partnerships;

Enhancing the student experience Improving the experience at the point of access; Managing student expectation of access to resources;

Delivering excellence in learning and teaching; Adding value to module/course development; Improving quality and consistency of reading lists;

Advancing equality and diversity.

Building the business case

Building a need with key colleagues (identifying the issues);

Securing support from senior colleagues;Creating an awareness of reading list management

software (what it is and how it may address the issues);

Defining the project (articulating the business benefits, outcomes and risks);

Securing resources (capital bid, 1 yr pilot)

Why Talis Aspire?After investigation and a tender process RGU

decided on:

Its features and benefits would allow us to work towards the outcomes.

Other benefits were that the company was actively developing the product, the support was good, and the community growing.

Implementation of ASPIRE@RGU

ASPIRE@RGU (http://resourcelists.rgu.ac.uk) was successfully set up and was launched on 31 May 2011.

After the first year of use it was decided to continue to subscribe to Talis Aspire, meaning we are now in year 2 of the project.

Day to day management of lists1 - Academic staff send their new / updated lists to the library• This can be done via a web form, email, or in person• They are asked to include details of the module, student numbers

and a “needed by” date

2 - The list is assigned to one of a core team of 5 library staff• This is done using a rota system• While creating the list the library checks if we have sufficient

copies and looks for new editions / eBooks / etc

3 - When complete the list is made available• The list is published, attached to the module and the member of

staff informed• Academic and library staff communicate throughout the process

as needed

Day to day management of lists This approach was chosen as:

It was felt offering to do the work would elicit more lists It would allow library staff to review the lists and ensure accuracy

in editions, access information etc. Library staff could take on the associated tasks of looking for

online versions, and ensuring the Library had sufficient / up to date stock.

Issues that have arisen from this approach: Time management especially at key times of year Prioritisation of work for library staff The need to manage expectations from academic staff about the

time for list creation How to manage reviews and updates as list numbers grow

Promotion and raising awareness Academic staff were informed about ASPIRE@RGU in

several ways: Presentations at appropriate events, committees and

meetings General presentations set up with all staff invited to attend A dedicated web page was set up Use of the blog, email, twitter etc

Students find out about ASPIRE@RGU: Links in their modules on Moodle Advertising via blog posts, emails, twitter etc The library web pages

Has it been a success? Number of listsOn 22 February 2013 there were 327 lists on

ASPIRE@RGU.

Approx 20% of modules have a list attached.

Aberdeen Business School

Faculty of Design and Technology

Faculty of Health and Social Care

Other0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Has it been a success? User comments

What an excellent tool ASPIRE@RGU is, I find it so useful to have a 'one-stop' shop for bookmarks, module reading lists etc………………………As a

distance learner I think I am going to find this software/tool very useful.

…………………..I ‘launched’ it at my introductory lecture this week. A few

hours later, in a follow-up ‘clinic’, a student came to explain to me and her

fellow students that she found the resource ‘brilliant’. In particular, she liked the access to the e-books…………

I really like what you have done with the list. The section labels are very

helpful, and I think will make it easier for students to find what they are

looking for.

The new facility is very useful indeed…….is it possible to compare

usage across different resources made available i.e. use of e-books compared

with use of videos etc. In this way ASPIRE might be able help us develop a more sophisticated appreciation of

different learning styles……..

Has it been a success? Reading lists to resource lists

A major benefit we see for ASPIRE@RGU is the opportunity to expand on what a reading list can be and create better quality lists.

More use of online resources

Wider range of resources provided

Greater structure e.g.

sections, importance levels, notes

Has it been a success? WorkflowsChanges in the budget for 2012/13

Split into two areas of spending – orders for resource lists and orders for general collection/research material.

This allows increased focus on providing resources on reading lists & more flexibility when resourcing new courses.

Changing systems & workflows for purchasing reading list materials (kaizen review)

Review of roles & responsibilities (co-ordination and delivery)

Has it been a success? Wider influence Driving policy

ASPIRE@RGU also ties in with policies such as library’s resourcing strategy. The main tenets of this are:

All reading lists on ASPIRE@RGU.All resources for distance learning students available

electronically.Early engagement of academic staff with the library prior to

the development of new courses. University Strategic Implementation Plan action

around ODL & student journey Deepening & more strategic relationships with

faculty

Monitoring usage - Google Analytics Aspire uses Google Analytics to provide statistics Statistics cover areas like:

Visits Unique visitors New and returning visitors Page views Sources i.e. referrals and direct links Locations of visitors Average time on pages Browsers and networks being used

Can create comparisons between time periods Can export statistics to excel

Visitors to the site – 01/06/11 – 15/01/13

124425 visitors to the site

Jun-11Jul-1

1

Aug-11

Sep-11

Oct-11

Nov-11

Dec-11

Jan-12

Feb-12

Mar-12

Apr-12

May-12

Jun-12Jul-1

2

Aug-12

Sep-12

Oct-12

Nov-12

Dec-12

Jan-13

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

Visits / New and returning – 01/12/12 – 31/12/12

Location / Referrals – 01/12/12 – 31/12/12

List usage with comparison – 01/12/12 – 31/12/12 (compared to same period 2011)

Top ten lists – 01/06/11 – 15/01/13

Research Methods BS3184

Finance For Managers BSM017

Health Needs Assessment NU4773

Poverty Inequalities, Vulnerability & Social Exclusion NU4773

Research Methods PH4014

Principles & Concepts of Public Health NU4773

Strategies & Approaches to Community Health NU4773

Learning for Professional Person Centred Care NU1442

Business strategy BS4104

Business Environment BSM029

0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500

Monitoring usage - Dashboard feature New feature that sits on the lists themselves and

gives users a easy look at list usage.

Contact

Michelle AndersonMichelle.anderson@rgu.ac.uk01224 263452