Pamela Hurst
Blog # 3
Media Center Webpages
School media center webpages are
quite puzzling to me because nearly every school has one yet; I doubt that the
large majority of webpages receive a lot of traffic. While there are a steady
number of students online during and after school, I wonder how many access the
school media center website. I have visited a number of media center websites
that were colorful and appealing and include some interesting information for
students. However, there are just as many more webpages that have very little
appeal to students. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts that I think are important to
consider when developing a successful and useful media center webpage.
Things that I consider as Don’ts for
media center webpages include the following:
·
Don’t - Let the information on your webpage be
decided on by your school system/district alone
·
Don’t - Produce your mothers webpage– produce a
21st century type webpage and;
·
Don’t - Produce a “one man show” webpage-
include others
When I look at the Do’s for media
center webpages I would include the following:
Do - Get ideas, feedback and
suggestions from students, parents and staff
Do - Include links that connect to important
stages of student’s lives and;
Do - Stretch as far into the 21st
century as possible
The content information on both the
school and media center webpages in DeKalb County schools is decided by the
county and then passed on to the library media specialist. While some of the
information is important and definitely belongs on the webpage; I question the usefulness
of a good deal of the information. Moreover, I believe that library patrons
should have some input into the content information on the webpage. If the goal
is to provide useful information and to attract many visitors then input from
the patrons, particularly the students, is vital. David Warlick’s idea of inviting
returns is more likely to happen when there is content information that appeals
to the patrons (2005).
Media center webpages should also
provide information that connects to the changes in student’s lives. Here is an
opportunity for the media center to focus on an area that school websites often
do not. For instance, links to summer jobs, applications and tips for
completing applications could be a useful addition to a media center webpage.
How much longer media center
webpages will exist is a valid question. In a world where students are just as
tech savvy as teachers, if not more so, we have to wonder how useful media center
webpages are and how much longer we will be using them. The library media
specialist who begins to incorporate more creative technology into their
webpages will have an advantage.
My recommendations for a couple of
media centers websites to explore are:
Alpharetta High School – I like the
look of the website and the Suggestions
for the Media Center form which is a great way to get suggestions and
feedback from library patrons. Check it out at
Elkins Pointe Middle School – This is
a very good website offering various reading programs for students, online
photo sharing through PictureTrail, 21st Century Skills Info., and a
student resource link that includes Discovery Education, Homework Help, Edmodo,
Study Island and a Prezi tutorial. Check it out at https://sites.google.com/site/cmsinfocenter/
Warlick, D. (2005). Building websites that work for your media center. Knowledge
Quest, 33:3,
13-16.
21st Century Websites
ReplyDeleteI don’t necessarily think Library Media Center(LMC) webpages are obsolete but the manner in which these pages are promoted may be obsolete. The wealth of information found in some LMC webpages is quite useful for students, teachers, and parents but the stakeholders haven’t been made aware of the valuable resources that lie within the pages of some websites. I definitely agree that the creators of these pages must stay abreast of the current and future times. Downloadable Apps that meet the interests of students as well as meet the academic needs is a good place to start. As a classroom teacher, I have learned the usefulness of numerous Apps from the students I teach. Streaming required information (like gradebook assistance for teachers and parents) through the LMC webpage may produce more hits. If you get the patron hits to the webpage then you will get patrons to peruse when information relevant to the patron’s need is available.
College entrance exam information deadlines and resource availability in the media center is useful for high school students. Certification information and professional development opportunities are relevant to teachers. Tips for helping children be successful in school are helpful to parents. It’s not the lack of good resources but the method of attracting patrons to view the webpage. Patrons should be regularly led to the webpage for resource check out availability, policies and procedures. The key is to have great resources available for your major stakeholders and then get patrons to visit the webpage.
I agree that just like any website or business location, you have to market it and make sure that your intended library patrons are aware. An orientation is a great way to achieve this. The first audience to target would be the administration and teachers. I would recommend having and orientation for them to learn what the library offers and how the website can assist with meeting common core standards. You would be surprised how little administration and teachers know about what is now available via the Internet for the media center. Some of of the staff grew up with the card catalog and feel that you have to be physically located in the library to utilize books and resources. Secondly, I would try to reach as many students as possible. To achieve this, you could block off some time to visit the classrooms that have computers and have them complete a scavenger hunt to navigate the media center website.
ReplyDelete