Understanding how the Library supports unit reading lists

The Library and Monash teaching academics share responsibility for ensuring that learning resources are current, copyright compliant, and easy for students to access.

This page helps teaching staff understand the Library’s role in providing reading resources set for the students by the Unit Coordinators.

On this page:

What the Library provides

Monash students are expected to purchase their own copies of any prescribed or required resources.

The Library can only supply a limited number of copies from your reading list. These copies exist to support students who cannot afford to purchase their own.

The number of copies we can provide depends on various factors such as:

  • pricing structures
  • licence conditions
  • number of enrolments
  • whether the item is prescribed or recommended
  • total number of readings in the list
  • availability of a digital version (our default preference)
  • sustainability of the Library budget.

Purchasing decisions also follow our General collection guidelines.

Where possible, electronic versions are the default.

How long it takes to acquire reading resources

The Library requires six to eight weeks to acquire items on your reading list. This timeframe covers licensing checks, copyright management, and the acquisition process.

The Library is responsible for ensuring that every item on a reading list complies with Australian copyright legislation and Monash licensing agreements. For this reason, all resources must be added to reading lists in Leganto, where the Library can manage copyright, licensing, and access.

Once your list is published, it becomes available to students via Moodle.

Do not upload unit readings directly into Moodle – this may result in a breach of copyright.

Challenges with commercial textbooks

Commercial textbooks – especially digital versions – can present challenges due to publisher restrictions. They may be:

  • prohibitively expensive
  • priced according to enrolment numbers, making them unsustainable
  • restricted in the number of students who can access them simultaneously (problematic for open‑book exams)
  • unavailable for institutional purchase
  • limited in content compared to what an individual buyer receives.

The Library may still be able to acquire a commercial textbook or etextbook, however doing so may reduce funding available for other resources needed across the University.

The Library aims to remain equitable across all faculties when supplying unit resources.

Alternatives to commercial textbooks

Where resources cannot be purchased due to restrictive licensing or availability, the Library can help identify alternatives, including:

If the Library cannot provide a resource

If we are unable to purchase a resource due to licensing or availability issues, the Unit Coordinator will be notified via email.

As Unit Coordinator, you retain full academic freedom to prescribe any resources you deem appropriate. We encourage you to consider the implications for students if a free library copy is not available.

The Library does not encroach on academic freedom or prescribe which resources should and shouldn’t be used.

Managing conflicts of interest

A potential conflict of interest may arise when an author requests that the Library purchases a resource they have authored.

The Library assumes that any such conflict has been appropriately managed in accordance with the University Conflict of Interest Policy or the relevant Faculty procedures. Unit Coordinators and teaching staff are responsible for ensuring that any conflicts have been declared and addressed before submitting reading list requests.

Who to contact for help

For help finding resources for your reading list:

For help with copyright issues:

For help creating and managing reading lists in Leganto: