Students to access more course materials online

Students and staff are set to benefit from the award-winning efforts of Monash University Library staff to provide greater access to reading list items for all Monash courses.

Our goal is to have key course material available when students need it," said Lending Services Librarian, Christine Cooze, "so the logical step is to make it available online."

Basically, the reserve system used to be about putting reading list items aside, making them available for short periods and only accessible when the libraries were open."

What we are doing now is working with teaching staff to get as many reading list items as possible on-line using the Library's electronic journal subscriptions, databases and the Digitisation Centre."

The reading list items are then linked from the 'Reading Lists' section of the Voyager catalogue.

"It sounds simple, but when you think about the number of units taught at Monash University, and each unit having sometimes several reading lists, and each item having to be located and perhaps scanned, catalogued, and cleared for copyright, you realise that it involves a huge collective effort by Library and academic staff across all campuses," Ms Cooze said.

A team of twelve library staff involved in establishing the service were presented the Vice Chancellor's Award for their efforts by Vice Chancellor, Professor Peter Darvall, in a ceremony at Clayton Campus in October 2002.

"Of course, not everything can go online so there is still a place for the traditional print-based reserve collection, but the online future is certainly here," Ms Cooze said.

Monash teaching staff are encouraged to contact the Library to take advantage of the new streamlined service.

Staff: more information available at: http://www.lib.monash.edu.au/morr/index.html

Students: to access reading lists via the Voyager Catalogue select the "Reading List" button.

1 February, 2003

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