I became the School Media Specialist last school year for two schools in our small county. The two schools have two different school websites but neither website had a section for School Media. That puzzled me. So I developed a School Media Website and had our technology team link it to our school websites.(http://longcountymediacenter.weebly.com/) After reading the assignments for this blogging topic I realized that I may have created a School Media Website but it is far from what it should be. I realized how much was lacking from our site. According to http://schoollibrarywebsites.wikispaces.com/ we should have more information listed on our sites. The things suggested were spaces for digital story telling, library bloggers, inquiry/information fluency, building tools, pathfinders, reports and research, resources, book promotions, and presentations, speeches, and instruction.
I loved the link (http://www.slideshare.net/technolibrary/scaffolding-the-research-process) about the research process. I feel that the grade levels that my media center serves (4-8th) is where the research process begins and is finely developed. I believe a link like this would be an asset on our School Media Center Website.
I also think that a School Media Website could be more effective by using the Book Promotions suggestion. I love the idea of having book trailers posted on the Website promoting featured books in the Media Center. Students are so technologically and visually driven so I believe having book trailers presented would make them more apt to read the books. The following link is one of my favorites.http://youtu.be/kl9vsRisEKU. I also love the idea of having reading theaters options listed on School Media Websites.
Last but not least I also find it very effective that School Media Center Website have Blog spaces. This allows communication from parents about what they would like to see in a school media and it also allows student projects to be shared and update.
Misty,
ReplyDeleteI like your website--don't you just love Weebly? I know there's a function on Weebly for a comment box to be added. The comments come directly to your email. This would be a great way to get feedback from your audience, specifically parents.
I especially like the idea of "book promotions." In high school, so often the students don't know anything about any books. This would be a great assignment for English classrooms, but also an excellent resource for a library website! Students can check out the promotions to determine what they might like to read.
I also love the idea of a blog--it would keep your audience up-to-date about what's happening in the Media Center. Finally, sharing student work is a really cool idea!
I'm glad your assessing your website, and I encourage you to take your time and focus on one small part at a time. The thought of adding everything the article you cited suggested made me tired just thinking about it. I too love weebly, and like that it's easy to use and easy to edit over time. I'd suggest putting you useful links in a symbaloo, only because it gives students a quick visual reminder of what the website is as well. While it's disappointing that your district did not provide web spaces for your media centers, it turned out well in the end because you were knowledgeable enough to do it yourself!
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