Provision of Reading List Texts in an Academic Library

Describes the efforts of Information Services staff at the University College of North Wales, Bangor, to obtain course reading lists. The response rate of 66.35 per cent for initial return of forms was very encouraging and this success can partly be attributed to the singular approach of collaboration with two local bookshops. Details the methodology involved in the project, in addition to the results obtained. Examines the responses of different departments to being informed that some of their reading list texts are not held in the library. Concludes that, while departments may put up strong resistance to the concept of the library stocking all reading list texts (e.g. due to limited funds), even the fiercest of critics found the project beneficial and positive results ensued. These results varied from one department ordering all their absent texts, to another changing the layout of their reading lists to indicate which texts were to be found in the library and which could be obtained from the lecturer.