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Reading Lists in Canvas

Information supporting the use of the Reading List app in Canvas.

Accessibility and availability of Reading Lists

  • Viewing your Reading List in different browsers
    Chrome or Firefox works best for the Reading List software. For students using the web browser Safari, they will need to open their Reading List in a separate tab or change their cookie settings to 'Always allow' in Safari.
     
  • Why can't I access the eBook on my Reading list?
    Library licensed eBooks and eJournals have concurrent users access restrictions. This means if an eBook database is set to 20 concurrent users and 25 users try and access the eBook at the same time, 5 users will be rejected. Try accessing the eBook at another time, or day. More information on using eBooks is available on the eBook library guide.
     
  • Downloading a Chapter from ProQuest eBook Central
    Daily download limits may apply. If you're having trouble, click the Book Details icon in the ePub reader, select Switch to PDF, then click the PDF icon to download the chapter.
     
  • When I go into my Reading list, I can't access the items. The message says "oops, item not available."
    This may be an error message caused by internet caching. The solution is to refresh your browser or click on Home in the Canvas course and select Reading List from the menu again. It may also be related to Library license restrictions.
     
  • Viewing on mobile devices
    Reading Lists can be viewed on a mobile device or tablet. Instructors/lecturers can edit on a mobile device, but the drag/drop function to re-order sections or individual citations will not work, so it is best to use a laptop or desktop computer for this.
     
  • Using the Accessibility menu in Reading Lists
    For your screen viewing preferences there are options to change the font size and screen contrast (Black and White: Medium Contrast and High Contrast). Go to Settings cog icon (top right) and select Accessibility menu.
     
  • Accessibility of reading resources
    Most licensed electronic resources in LibrarySearch are accessible (each platform has its own accessibility statement). Where a resource is scanned from print with optical character recognition (OCR) it may not be fully accessible. The Equitable Learning Service can support registered students requiring content in accessible formats as part of an Equitable Learning Plan.
     
  • Sample list
    In Leganto, Reading Lists can be marked as sample list. It can serve as a template for other lists, showing best practice and allowing copying of content. The list is discoverable via filters in the Find Lists interface. Access edit the list and tick the checkbox. Publish the list to all students. Note: If published to course students they will not be able to see the list.

Instructors using Reading List software

  • Why can't I link to the PDF on the web using Cite it?
    Sometimes webpages have Digital Rights Management (DRM) to prevent direct linking, and it is a breach of copyright to try to circumvent. The best practice is always to link to a previous/higher-order webpage (that is, one that mentions the PDF). The benefit is the reader receives other contextual information (for example, the host webpage, bibliographic, or license information). Another advantage is that if the web publisher produces updated versions of the document, the most recent version is available, saving you time in searching for and updating.
     
  • Can I upload PDFs to my Reading List?
    For Library licensed resources and authorised websites, you can safely link to the material from a Reading List citation. In most cases you can't upload a PDF to a Reading List as it may infringe the licensed database or website terms of use. The exception is PDFs that are licensed Creative Commons or RMIT University created copyright works.
     
  • Why can't I see the Rollover button, or the Add/Edit button to select it?
    Staff must be a Collaborator in the Reading List to perform these functions. Contact the Library Teaching Support team.
     
  • I am a new course coordinator, why can't I see the Reading List?
    Staff must be a Collaborator in the Reading List to see the Reading List associated to the Canvas course. Contact the Library Teaching Support team.
     
  • How can I prevent my Reading List from getting accidentally deleted?
    You can export a Reading List as a back up, allowing you to import your list if it is accidentally deleted. It is also useful if you need to share the file with another instructor for another course. See instructions on how to export your list. 
     
  • Error messages in Canvas
    Most commonly experienced errors with Reading Lists are: Instructor/lecturer is not in Alma or The course code is not in Alma. If you are receiving these, it may mean that either you are not registered in ALMA as an instructor, or the course code is not registered in ALMA. Contact the Library Teaching Support team.
     

  • My Lists are not displaying when I click on My Lists.
    The solution is to refresh the page and lists will be displayed.