Adding Readings to Canvas

Add Assigned & Optional Readings to your course in Canvas.

Within a Canvas shell, find Settings in the lefthand menu.
In Settings, click Navigation.
Find Assigned & Optional Readings in the list at the bottom of the page.
Click the three dots next to Assigned & Optional Readings.
Click Enable.
Place Assigned & Optional Readings where you would like students to see it in your lefthand menu. We recommend under Modules.

Start building your reading list.

In the lefthand menu, click Assigned & Optional Readings.
You should see two options here.
1. Create a new list from scratch lets you create a brand new reading list.
2. Create list from an existing list lets you connect to or duplicate a prebuilt reading list put together by Course Reserves staff, another instructor, or a previously taught iteration of a course.
Choose the option you would prefer and see the appropriate instructions below.

Create a new list from scratch.

Click Create a new list from scratch.
On the next page, confirm the List Name of your reading list. Your reading list can be the suggested list name or something you customize. For instance, the system suggested "Fall 2025 TTU Music Bibliography and Research (MUSI-7301-002) Full Term" but could be changed to "Fall 2025 Music Bibliography & Research."
Before you click Next make sure that the Link to Course matches the course you are building a list for.
Click Next.
On the next page, choose what sections you would like your reading list to have.
1. Default is one long list
2. Weeks defaults to the number of weeks in the semester.
3. Modules defaults to 8 sections that can be renamed but can be edited as needed. A reading list with three large sections could be changed to 3 modules. You can change the names of the modules later.
Click Create List.

Create list from an existing list.

Click Select existing list.
If you are listed as an instructor or collaborator on an existing reading list, those reading lists will be visible as options.
If you are not listed as an instructor on an existing reading list, you can search by list title, course title, course code, instructors, etc.
Once you have found the list you want to use, choose either Link course to this list or Duplicate list. Both of these will auto-populate previously chosen readings and resources.
1. Link course to this list means that the list cannot be edited without affecting all courses using the same list. Best for multiple sections of the same course where all content remains the same across sections.
2. Duplicate list allows an instructor to work with a copy of a list and add, remove, or edit as needed. Ideal for new iterations of a previously taught course to keep a record of how the readings have changed or for multiple sections of the same course where resources are loosely the same but may vary between instructors.

Add resources to your list.

Readings and other resources can be added to Assigned & Optional Readings in a variety of ways, depending on what best suits your workflow.

In your new list, click +Add.
1. New item gives five options to add new items.
2. New section adds a new module or section delination in the list.
3. New note adds a new note to students about the Assigned & Optional Readings.
To add items from the library databases, including eBooks, journal articles, and streaming media, as well as physical resources, click Search the library.
1. Search the library allows you to search like you would the catalog on the main library website. Search the citation or keywords to find the resources you need.
2. Find the resource you need.
3. Mouse over the citation.
4. If you click on the citation, you can choose:
  1. Add toList, Suggestions, or Favorite,
  2. Section if your list has more than one section,
  3. Add tag marks a resource as Essential, Recommended, or Optional.
5. Once you have made your choices, choose Add to add the resource directly or Add & Edit to have the ability to add a note to the students or a due date.
Add from favorites allows you to add resources you have added to your favorites when browsing the library catalog.
Upload files allows you to add a PDF.
Add using ISBN allows you to enter an ISBN to add a book or other resource. It should bring up the book cover but you may need to enter the citation manually.
Import references allows you to upload a PDF of citations or link your Zotero account. Please note, citations uploaded in this fashion will need to be double checked manually.
Manual entry allows you to type in a citation of any resource you need, including direct links to internet resources.

Assigning a reading or resource we don't own?

Course Reserves staff will verify all Assigned & Optional Readings. Resources owned by the Libraries will be linked to or moved to the reserve shelves. Resources we do not yet own will be purchased if we are able. Some resources may take time to purchase or source. Please be patient with us but feel free to ask for an update. If we are unable to purchase an item, particularly an electronic book, we will contact you with additional information.

Have a copy you'd like to lend for reserves or for us to scan? Contact us at libraries.reserve@ttu.edu or (806)742-2159 to schedule a pickup or dropoff.

Organizing your Readings in Canvas

Readings can be organized and rearranged as needed. Resources with multiple readings can be listed in multiple sections with a Note indicating what chapter(s) to read.

You can link an entire reading list, a section of a list, or an individual resource within Canvas modules. All linked sources can be accessed from both Assigned & Optional Readings and from where you add the shareable link.

To begin, mouse over the resource in Assigned & Optional Readings.
Click the Share item icon.
Click Copy shareable link to item.
In a Canvas module, click + to add an item.
Select External URL.
Paste the sharable link in the URL field.
In Page Name, enter a descriptor that makes sense for the resource. For example: How to Write about Music: 15: Abstract Writing.