Our Readings & Resources Lists service provides students easy access to the prescribed, essential and additional resources in one easy place via the Readings & Resources tab in vUWS sites.
If your School uses the Western’s Learning Guide Management System, the reading list within the Subject Outline will be automatically received by the Library after approval.
A Readings & Resources List will be created in your subject’s vUWS site. This will contain direct links to the electronic resources themselves or to the Library catalogue for items held in print. If we don’t hold the item we will buy it, with electronic access as a priority as per the Library Collection Development Policy. You should allow 6-8 weeks on average for new items to be received. See the Timeframes below.
If your Subject Outline is not submitted via the Learning Guide Management System, please send it to us for processing.
Changes to Prescribed or Essential Resources
If you require advice around curriculum resources, please contact your School Librarian. Any changes to the Subject Outline need to be submitted to the TSC - Tracking Subject Changes Form for review and approval by the DAP and Deputy Dean. We will receive automatic notification of these once approved and update your Readings & Resource List in vUWS.
Access to e-books
Publishers offer many different licence access models for e-books. We purchase unlimited licences if available, but sometimes the only option is a limited licence. This means that only a certain number of people can use it at the same time. Students may experience challenges when they are turned away while trying to access a limited-user e-book. If your list includes a limited-user e-book, you might like to share these FAQ tips with your students.
Open Education Resources (OER)
Open texts and resources are an excellent option as they offer unlimited user access so lots of people can use them at the same time. They also have the added advantage of a Creative Commons licence that may allow you to tailor their content to best suit your students’ needs.
Good places to start are:
- Pressbooks Directory
- CAUL OER Collective Catalogue
- Open access finder tools
- Western Open Books for WSU publications
Reserve Collection
Our students value the flexibility of accessing course materials anytime and anywhere. As a multi-campus environment, linking to electronic and digital formats for prescribed and essential texts in Readings & Resources Lists is our priority.
Not all course materials are available electronically so each University campus library maintains a limited Reserve Collection. This collection includes physical items, such as books with no digital equivalent. Under exceptional circumstances, personal copies of academic work could be included.
Contact your School Librarian to help you identify digital alternatives to print resources.
Timeframes
Processing timelines after approved Learning Guide is received | Service |
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4-6 weeks prior to start of teaching period/agreed deadline |
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2-3 weeks prior to start of teaching period/agreed deadline |
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Under 2 weeks prior to start of teaching period/agreed deadline |
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