branding school library media centers through the library website klaudia janek, mlis international...
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Branding School Library Media Centers Through
the Library WebsiteKlaudia Janek, MLIS
International AcademyBloomfield Hills, MI
Building an Effective K-12 School Library Website
Examples
Best Practices
Things to Consider
SharingGoogleDoc with examples from MAME and LM_NET
Favorite School Library Websites
Castilleja Schoolhttp://library.castilleja.org/Wordpress Incorporates school colors and logoOn main school websiteRecent updatesDatabases in alphabetical order w/ descriptionProfessional lookingEasy to navigateCreated with students in mind
Things to considerLarge full time staff
Two main menus
Lot of content below the fold = scrolling to the bottom
Favorite School Library Websites
Chapel Hill High Schoolhttp://chhslibrary.weebly.com/index.htmlWeeblyLibrary is included in the main school menu barEffective top menu w/ pull downs to submenus Important information above the foldDatabases w/ descriptionProfessional looking/ cleanEasy to navigateCreated with students in mind
Things to considerLarge banner
No alphabetical listing of databases
Does not integrate school colors/logo/mascot
Favorite School Library Websites
Canterbury High Schoolhttp://libtest.cburylife.org/Many recent updatesProfessional looking/ cleanEffective use of widgetsGood use of LibGuides
Things to considerLarge banner
You have to scroll to the bottom to get the good stuff
Databases difficult to identify
Favorite School Library Websites
New Trier High Schoolhttp://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/page.aspx?id=7108Library is included on the school top menuProfessional looking/ cleanGood use of icons Information on teacher assignments are posted
(using LibGuides)School colors and logo match the main school site
Things to considerDatabases are hidden behind proxy server
Best ways to build an effective library website
Decide what is most important Include above the fold
List the sources you pay for first! Then list free ones on a secondary page or at the bottom.
Spell check
Grouping vendors together is not as effective as grouping by subject
Graphics are good
There is such a thing as too many widgets
Consistency is key (in terms of image size, tables, cell size, etc)
Best ways to build an effective library website
Try to have a library/media center link from the school home page.
Provide multiple points of accessList resources by subjectList resources alphabeticallyUse database widgets and OPAC widgets to
integrate library into Moodle/Blackboard
Flip your library by providing links to guided tutorials or YouTube videos
Lessons LearnedLibGuides or LiveBinders might be worth
exploring
Simple updates are key (choose one or two not all)A way to show new books –shelfari, LibraryThingStudent or librarian book reviews are interestingUpcoming library eventsPoints of prideStudent projectsHighlight a Resource of the Month
Celebrate your SL21 status!
Other options I found…
Gale Sites…
Within a course management system
Class Assignments in Moodle
Dr. Joyce ValenzaShe gets her own slide!
http://sdst.libguides.com/databases
Things to considerUse of widgetsLibGuidesGlogster2 OPACLots of databases and ebooks!
What about the Learning Commons Model?
By David LoertscherCarol KoechlinSandi Zwaan
Ester Rosenfeld
A DefinitionA Virtual Space
Experimental Learning
Center
A Physical Space
Open Commons
Virtual Learning Commons
The Information Center• the opening page not unlike the traditional
school library website containing portal entries into the sites listed below and provides linkages to the OPAC, other libraries, items of interest, calendar, etc.
The Reading Culture• the world of literacy including reading,
writing, speaking, and listening
Virtual Learning CommonsThe Knowledge Building Center• the place where the learning commons
interfaces with the great learning experiences across departments, grade levels, and the faculty of the school
The Experimental Learning Center• that is home base for school improvement and
professional development; a place for experimentation, action research, specific initiatives
Virtual Learning Commons
School Culture• the living school yearbook of the school including, performances, sports, exhibits, clubs, and other notable activities.
Features to include: An area for a parade of
super learning experiences working though the learning commons.
A place for tools, tutorials including those created by faculty and students
Collaborative reading centers and initiatives in support of school improvement and the Common Core Standards
The center of school culture
The virtual school yearbook
Professional development in the experimental learning center of the VLC
Collaborative construction of all kinds of lists, projects, etc.
Connections to all types of libraries and community agencies
Features to include: Connection to an OPAC that
is collaborative
Connections to databases and other resources where everyone is helping find and recommend the best
Current events
Activities that draw kids and adults to the VLC
The center of the curriculum and teacher's learning activities and programs; courses, etc.
Connections beyond the school to the community and on into the world
Career information
Connections to experts of all kinds
School-wide projects
Middle School VLC
Knowledge Building
Center
Real work space
Exhibit space
Demonstration space
Communication space
Assessment Space
Collaboration between everyone
Best practice teaching
Differentiated Instruction
Final Big Think
YALSA Journal
Case study school library in article
MAME Recommended Sites
Denise Lovse – Clarkston
Martha Spear – Berkley
Lois Smits - Holland Christian
Teresa Asch - Holt High School
Thomas Stream - Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Beverley Rannow - Otsego Middle-High School
Ria Faber - Covenant Christian High School
Catholic Central - Novi, MI
Personal Experienceshttp://galesites.com/k12/lom_inac
Follow a district template
Tried to implement VLC
ReflectionThree things you can implement tomorrow
Do you have SL21 status?
Do you have a library mission statement? Vision?
What best practices or programs are you/your school involved in? (ie: Visible Thinking, Big 6, IB, Whole Child, etc)