Reusing Reading Lists

Owned by Jennifer Koerber (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jun 13, 2019
4 min read

Duplicating a Reading List

The duplication and reuse of a Reading List can be done by library staff in Alma or initiated by instructors (or library staff by request of an instructor) in Leganto, then processed by library staff in Alma.

An instructor may communicate to library staff that they would like to reuse all or a significant part of a previous Reading List by:

  • Direct communication via email or phone call
  • Posting a syllabus in Canvas
  • Choose the Roll Over option in Leganto

First, we'll look at how library staff can duplicate and reuse a list in Alma.

  1. Search for older reading lists using the search type Reading List, search criteria Course, and the alpha numeric designation for the course (i.e., DES 101)
  2. From the list of results, decide which year's reading list you want to duplicate
    • If you aren't sure and want to view a list, click the row action item list icon and select View
  3. After deciding which list to duplicate, choose Duplicate from the row action item list
  4. The duplicate list will appear with the same Code and Name, but with a (1) after it
    • If the duplicate list doesn't immediately appear in the list of results, search again for the same Reading List
  5. Find the duplicate list and choose Work On from the row action item list
  6. Scroll down to the set of tabs above the list of citations and click on Courses to see what course(s) is/are associated with this list
  7. For each old course(s), choose Remove Association from the row action item list menu
  8. When all old courses have been removed, click on Add Association at the top of the list
  9. Search for the class for the upcoming semester in the search box, select the correct one, then click Associate Course
    • If there is more than one listing for the course in the upcoming semester, choose the one with the lowest-number Course Code. 
  10. Copy and paste the Code for the course in place of the code for the duplicated list (the one with the (1) on the end of it) in the upper pane
  11. Remove the (1) from the Course Name in the upper pane.
  12. Click the Citations tab and edit the list for the upcoming semester by deleting citations no longer needed and adding new ones if necessary
  13. At this point, you can begin processing reserves for this course
  14. You'll notice that now that this list is associated with a new course, the Due Back Date will automatically update to the end of that course's semester.
    1. You can control when the list becomes visible (i.e., Active), by entering a Reading List Visible Start Date, or leave it blank and it will become Active automatically. (I'm not 100% on that part, to be honest. I will let you know if I find out something different.)
  15. When you want to stop working on this Reading List, click Save in the upper right corner of the screen; the Reading List is now assigned to you


Rolling Over an Old Reading List

Instructors may choose to reuse a Reading List from a previous semester by finding that list in Leganto/Library Reserves and choosing Rollover List from the set of actions in the ellipsis menu at the top of the list of citations.

Library staff can do this as well, but have to first find the list in Alma, then choose View In Leganto either from the results list or the Reading List record.

The advantage for library staff in reusing a list in this manner is that the course does not have to be de-assigned from the previous course and assigned to the new one, since that assignment takes place in Leganto.

Once in Leganto, here’s how it works:

  1. From the ellipsis menu, choose Roll Over List

  2. A window will appear to ask to which Course the List will roll over to. Type in the Course Name and select a course from the results, making sure to pick the correct semester.

  3. Look over the list of options that appear once the Course has been selected and make changes as needed; read more about options at Links to Leganto Reading Lists

  4. Return to Alma and search for a Reading List by Course Name.

  5. Look in the list of results for one that has the same Code and Name as that of the Reading List that was just Rolled Over, but with (1) appended to the Code and (Rolled Over) appended to the name

  6. Choose Work On from the row action item list menu for that Reading List.

  7. The new Reading List will have already been assigned to the new course, so change the semester in the Course Name to match that course. Remove (Rolled Over) from the Course Name as students might find that confusing. Leave (1) as part of the Course Code to keep it distinct from its predecessor.

The editing of the name of the Reading List can also be performed in Leganto, but instructors or their assistants might not remember to do that. As you're monitoring new Reading Lists, look for ones that are assigned to a new Course but have a Course Name from an older one and/or a number in parentheses at the end of the Code or Rolled Over at the end of the Name.