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Academic Support - Library and Learning Support
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Referencing - how to interpret reading lists

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Where to start? - Reading Lists

Reading Lists are a good place to start identifying your references. They provide key information to assist you with locating recommended books, journals, journal articles and electronic sources.

If you are using myBU, Reading Lists appear as an option on each Unit page. If your learning and teaching materials are not yet being made available via myBU, your Subject Librarian will be able to show you how to locate them. The Library has a catalogue of Reading Lists which you can search here.

Tips

  • Note down as much information from each item as possible.
  • Ask yourself what the reference is referring to: a book; book chapter; journal; journal article, etc?
  • If unsure check the information you have against the examples below.
  • When viewing an item from your online Reading List, click on the item detail to see where the item is located or, if an e-resource, view the item online.

What to look for

  • Layout - These lists are not necessarily written in the style you need for your piece of work.
  • What is it? Book, book chapter or journal article - Check the Quick Guide to referencing

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Some examples of Reading Lists

If you are studying an accounting unit, part of your reading list may look like this

Reading List

Reading Lists may not give the same or as much detailed information as you will need to give in your reference list. For example, in the list above the authors' surnames are not in capitals and the first name(s) are given in full rather than as initials. However, in your reference list, you would type (or write) COX, D. not Cox, David.

The example below, taken from a typical Unit Guide, looks very different to the online Reading List extract shown above. This is why it is important to be able to understand the various parts of the reference.

Author(s) Title Date Class No
Bedfordshire County Council & RSPBA Step by Step guide to Environmental Appraisal in `Environment and Health´ 1996 333.72
Owen Harrop and J. Ashley Nixon Environmental Assessment in Practice 1999 333.71
Swanwick Landscape Assessment Principles & Practice 1996 333.71
R. Morris and R. Therivel Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment. p 6-9. Journal of Environmental Law 1995 Vol 6 No.1 Jnls
DR.E. Munn (ed.) Environmental Impact Assessment (2nd ed.) 1979 333.71
Dr. Theriveland and S. Thompson Strategic Environmental Assessment and Nature Conservation 1996 333.71

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