New to this app? Online manual

Licensed to VU

Beginner

VU Reading Lists helps teachers to create, maintain and access VU's online reading lists. It offers full control over the content and layout, allows linking to almost any online material (including eBooks, ejournal articles, multimedia, and websites) and provides students with an intuitive interface through which to access and manage their course readings. VU Reading Lists also makes it easier for lecturers to comply with the copyright rules regarding (re)use of learning materials.

Easily create and integrate interactive reading lists for your students in Canvas
Always copyright compliant
Add notes to individual items to provide guidance and commentary
Edit your lists directly at any time and easily alert the library to items that need purchasing.
Share the reading list with colleagues

Getting started with VU Reading Lists

We made a step by step guide for you how you can get started with VU Reading Lists and how to use the tool.

Step by step guide for teachers

VU Reading Lists | Demonstration List

Click the link to see an example of what a VU Reading List looks like

Go to the example

VU Reading Lists | Student Perspective

We created a handout about VU Reading Lists for students

Go to student handout

Request literature at the library?

Books not available through the Library can be added to a list by bookmarking them from a supplier or via 'add resource' and adding them to the relevant reading list. It is useful to add a 'note for library'. After publishing your list, the Library will look at your request.

Need help?

At the University Library, we are happy to help you to get started or give a demonstration about the application. Just send us a message!

This video shows how students can use VU Reading Lists

If you cannot find your question here, try to find it in the FAQ.

Access the right literature at the right time

With VU Reading Lists, you can create clear reading lists for your students. Students find all relevant literature for their course in one place in Canvas, have direct access to the learning materials and can manage the literature with personal notes or save it.

Checking Library availability

When you add books to the list, you can immediately see whether it is available in the library for students. If a book is not yet available in the library, you can easily request it by adding a 'note for library'. Students can also see if the book is available in the library

Decide reading intentions, add personal notes or save literature

Students can assign a reading intention or status to each item on a reading list. The statuses are as follows: ‘Undecided’, ‘Will read’, ‘Reading now’, ‘Have read’, Won’t read’. Once assigned, this is shown by a coloured icon next to each item. They can then filter the list and show just items from a particular category.

Students can add personal notes to reading list items. If students decide to save literature for future usage, they can select the 'add to my bookmarks' option

Please help us collect inspiring examples. If you have an interesting example to share, or if you come across an example worth sharing, please tell us by filling out this Contact Form. Your help is much appreciated.

VU-specific FAQ

+ How do I create a new reading list?

First, contact the University Library to set up your account. Second, go to the homepage of VU Reading Lists log in and go to ‘my lists’. Here you can start creating a new list.

+ Can I add any content I want to my reading list?

You can add any book, article or website (including videos from youtube) to your reading list. However, you cannot add saved documents to your reading list, such as excel files, word files or pdf files.

+ Can I use VU Reading Lists in Canvas?

VU Reading Lists integrates with Canvas. You can add the application via external tools or via pages. Take a look at the manual for detailed instructions. Students and staff can also find a published reading list at the homepage of VU Reading Lists

+ What is the difference between required reading, recommended reading and optional reading?

Required reading = Examination literature.

Recommended reading = to brush up on prior knowledge for students.

Optional reading = not mandatory, but handy. Some teachers use this as an extra service.

+ Can I add literature to my reading lists that is not available in our library?

You can simply include this book in your reading list. Make sure to leave a 'note for library' with the request to purchase this book or contact the university library. The library will process the request.

+ Can I import references from Endnote (a RIS-file)?

Yes, this is possible. Please see:these instructions

In the online manual you can find more FAQ's

The VU privacy statement for VU Reading Lists

The VU has a contract and a data processing agreement with the supplier. These contain all kinds of provisions that prohibit the supplier from using personal data of VU employees and VU students for their own purposes (such as reselling). There are also a variety of security agreements in the agreement about when employees of the supplier may view data (almost never) that enters the application and what the supplier must do to minimize the chance that third parties can view or change data. Please contact the University Library for any questions.

Be aware of copyright

Scientific articles and other educational materials are often copyrighted. When using VU Reading Lists, you are always copyright compliant because you are linking to resources. However it is important to be aware of the copyright rules and the easy access agreenement.

Support Center for Educational Resources and Copyright

Want help with copyright?

Do you need help and want to know if the material you want to use for your classes can be uploaded to Canvas or can be used in VU Reading Lists? You can ask your Subject Librarian for help or send an e-mail to cip.ub@vu.nl. They are happy to help and know exactly what is allowed to be used.

My subject librarian

Do you have a question?

The University Library provides support for this application. They are happy to help!

Ask the library

Rather set up an appointment?

Using a new tool can be challenging and it can take some time to master the new tool. The University Library is happy to help of give a demonstration about the tool.

Set up an appointment

Teaching at VU Amsterdam