1. Making sense of your reading list
Ruth Dryden
Education Librarian March 2015

2. Don’t be overwhelmed…
At first sight a reading list can be a bit confusing.
The aim of this presentation is to give you some help and advice in de-coding what a reading list is telling you.

3. What’s a Reading List for?
First, it is a guide to finding the books and journal articles that your tutor thinks are important/helpful to you.
It should be your first place to go when beginning research for an essay or assignment as generally there are things on the list which will help you answer the question.
However it is not the only thing you should use, nor are you generally expected to read everything on the list.
But reading items on the list should be an important part of your studies, as well as reading more widely around the topics on your course.

4. What’s on the list ? You would expect to find books.
These may be divided into ‘core’ texts – which you should aim to read pretty much in full – and ‘wider’ reading that you can dip into.
You do not have to read everything on the list. Aim to read one or two of the core texts in detail and then be selective about the rest depending on the topic of your essay.
You will also find journal articles.
You might also find journal titles and websites.
You probably won’t find a book or an article with the exact wording of your essay or assignment in it.
In theory everything on the list should be available in the Library either in print or electronically.
The following slides will help you recognise and find the different types of resources on a reading list.

5. Finding your reading list
On the Library homepage find the Reading Lists tab under ‘Search’ or find it on the page for your module in Moodle

6. Search for a list Sign in here with your normal Brookes login details
Search by module name or number
You don’t have to sign in to see the list but you will need to do so to access electronic books or journals

7. Use the links in the list to see what copies are in the Library or to access online resources…
Clicking these links will take you directly to the resource…

8. Or you can search the catalogue to find books which are available in hard copy and online
Access the Catalogue from the Library home page or from the dedicated catalogue machines (OPACS) you will find around the Library.

9. You can search by the whole title…

10. Or search by author and keyword…

11. Or by author name…

12. A book reference will look like this
How to recognise a book
A book reference will look like this
Robertson, J. (2014) Dirty teaching: a beginner’s guide to learning outdoors. Independent Thinking
Book title
Author’s name
Date published
Bancyfelin:
Place of publication
Publisher

13. How to recognise a chapter
Sometimes you will see an item on your list
which looks like this:
Glauert, E. (1998) ‘Science in the early years’ in Siraj-Blatchford,I.(ed.)
A curriculum development handbook for early years educators.
Author of chapter
Editor of book chapter is in
Chapter title
Title of the book the chapter is in
You need to look up the name of the editor of the book not the author of the chapter; the clue is the word ’in’

14. More examples of a book reference
One author:
Crossley, M. (2003) Comparative and international research in education. London: Routledge Falmer
Two authors:
Riley, K. and Nuttall, D. (1994) Measuring quality: education indicators, UK and international perspectives. London: Falmer
Edited book:
Halls, W.D. (ed.) (1990) Comparative education: contemporary issues and trends. London: Kingsley

15. Journal = magazine = periodical = serial
What is a journal?
Journal = magazine = periodical = serial
Any publication issued in parts
Specifically, in an academic context, containing research articles which are scholarly or academic and often peer reviewed (that is, reliable research)
May appear annually, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly
Each year of publication is allocated a volume number – so the first year of publication is volume 1 and so on
Each part issued in the same year will also have an issue or part number – so a journal which is published monthly will have 12 issues or parts in each volume

16. Searching for a journal by name
Use the catalogue to search for the titles of journals (not articles) in print or online
Or use the Library’s A-Z list to search for electronic journals (under ‘E-journals’ on the Library homepage)

17. Identifying the parts of an article
Author
Article title
Lever-Chain, J. (2008 ) Turning boys off?
Listening to what five-year-olds say about
reading. Literacy 42 (2) pp
Volume and issue
Page numbers
Journal title

18. More examples of a journal reference
Printed journal (hard copy)
Green, A. (2002) ‘The many faces of lifelong learning: recent education policy trends in Europe’ Journal of Education Policy, Vol.17 No.6 pp
Electronic journal (e.g. from an online database)
Morrice, L. (2007) ‘Lifelong learning and the social integration of
refugees in the UK: the significance of social capital’
International Journal of Lifelong Education; Vol.26 No.2 pp
DOI /
Permanent identifier for the source which replaces the need to have URL or ‘accessed’ date

19. Help with referencing
Why you need to reference – acknowledging your sources ensures that you can’t be accused of plagiarism (trying to pass off other people’s work as your own)
How to do it correctly –
Use the Library’s Cite them right online database accessed from the Library homepage and never worry about getting it wrong again!
Find out more here:

20. Finally… Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it :
You can find answers to most questions on the Library Homepage
Use your subject help pages to get more detail and find how to contact us
Use our service