The media center’s web page should be easy to find, and linked to from the school’s home page, as well as from as many faculty pages as possible (all, if possible). Some school sites do not prominently display a link to the media center page, requiring users to hunt for it. That is counter-productive and discouraging. Everyone uses and benefits from the school’s media center, so the media specialist should make sure that the media center home page is prominently featured on a school’s home page. Making sure the page is easily searchable, through Google and other search engines, is also good due diligence on the part of the media specialist.
Once a user gets to the media center home page, several items should be easy to find.
1. Some kind of welcoming statement, communicating to users that the media staff want people to come into the media center and use the materials found within.
2. The media center’s hours of operation, and the names of the media specialist(s) and support staff.
3. A link to the media specialist’s email address and/or to media specialist blog(s) to facilitate easy communication with the media specialist.
4. What are the most basic rules to follow (such as no food or drink…or how many books may be checked out and for how long)? These should be on the home page, and the user should be able to link to a more comprehensive set of rules, so as to make this information available without cluttering up the home page.
5. Link to the OPAC and some direction that this is where users may browse the collection or make targeted searches for specific items/types of items. A link can be provided, here, to instructions for using the OPAC – a pdf, or perhaps a PowerPoint, or a podcast explaining the basics of this invaluable tool.
6. Link to GALILEO, also including some basic indication of what GALILEO can do for the user, also including a link to a page with instructions, similar to that found for the OPAC.
7. Link to wiki(s) that address content-specific areas, information literacy/research, reading initiatives, media center/PTSO/community initiatives for maximizing collaborative efforts across the curriculum.
8. An FAQ page, linked to from the home page, answering as many of the frequently asked questions as possible.
9. Link to the local public library and its resources.
10. Prominently features current happenings in the media center, highlighting student work to the greatest extent possible.
Keeping the page up to date with accurate, current information is essential. Also, proofing for correct spelling and use of grammar is a must. The home page should be updated often enough that there is new content for users to look at and consider. The less static users see the resource, the more they will come to use it.
What do you have to add, disagree with, or to expand on, from these points?
I agree completely with your first comment that the media center’s webpage should be easy to find. It becomes very frustrating when I have to try and track down where the link is for the media center. You want your stakeholders to be able to utilize your site and if they have a difficult time locating it then it becomes very frustrating for them. Your posting has a lot of great ideas on what to include in a media center’s webpage. I like the idea of a podcast explaining how to use the OPAC and GALILEO.
ReplyDeleteSome other ideas would be to include a link to the AR program and a link to book reviews. Also a link that showcases the new materials that the media center has acquired would be great.
There are so many terrific ideas of what you can include on the media center webpage that I believe it would be an invaluable resource to all stakeholders if it is created and updated properly.
I have to agree with all your suggestions for a school library media center website. I never thought about searching the site and what will come up in a search engine. I do realize after reading your suggestions that it is important to maintain the website and add things that are critical to the grade levels at the school. Most high schools don't want a link to AR programs but many elementary schools do. The site needs to catch the eye of the reader if it is a five year old or a fifteen year old. It also needs to be easy to navigate.
ReplyDeleteI also think that any documents added should be in PDF form because I just ran across a parent who changed the type on a document that was uploaded to a teacher website/blog. If it is PDF format, the parents are less likely to be able to change it. Or the document can be uploaded as a read only document. I was amazed at the things that we have to think about now when posting to the web along with what parents try to do now.
Cecilia said:
ReplyDeleteYou have done an excellent job defining the resources that should be on a MC webpage.A media center web page can contain so much! The best part about it is that it offers information 24/7 and convenience to the users. One thing that I haven't seen on many school MC websites is a link to a book club. For example, the school's book club could have its own blog, list of popular titles, etc. Along these same lines, the MC site could link to Library Thing or other book loving - related sites, provided that they are appropriate. This, too would be helpful and fun for the user.
Most media center's web pages in our school district is a link on the school's web site. This make it easier to locate the media center information. This will keep the media center and the school's web page in sync with each other. Most web pages have similar information. Our school's web page includes the rules the students take home for signature to get permission to check out. This same information is on the web page. Also, it includes activities the media center will be having and updated on a regular basis. One thing that I have seen especially on the example of web pages is link to several resources. I like the list you made; the book mentions that is a good start to making a web page.
ReplyDeleteStitch has provided a great list of items needed on a media center website. I agree that documents should be posted as pdf files. However, as a fellow media specialist I would not be afraid to email the media specialist to request permission to use the document and to ask for a copy of the original word (or other original format)document. Some forms do need to be posted as Word documents so that students can download them and use them for research projects or other class assignments.
ReplyDeleteThe following is the link to another blog post that I wrote that shows the use of a blog and wiki that is linked from the school media center's webpage.
http://technotime-medt6467.blogspot.com/2010/10/should-we-dumpthe-media-center-web-page.html#comments
I hope you'll have time to look at the link.
Wow! That was alot of items listed that you felt should be found on a web site. Each item listed would be beneficial to the user. I think that once you create the web page and put the hours of operation and the names of the media specialists each page would become its own because of the grade level of the school. The colors you use, the font size and shape, designs, links to additional resources, etc. would be chosen by your audience. This guides the person designing the web page, yet it allows them to be as creative as they want to be!
ReplyDeleteOne of the guidelines our school system has is that we should not over commit to the ammount of information we must update on a regular basis. They say it is better to start small and keep the site manageable. It is better to build as you grow with the site. Being current is key! Our school system gives a list of correct web links to Floyd Co. School Programs to use on our school website. We also have a district logo which helps connect individual schools to the district. I really think you covered all the bases with your post. Linking to Library Thing would be great if there was a site designated for elementary school students only. Our system blocks these types of sites. It's ashame we can't benefit from the good because of the uncertain. Thanks for the information!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic list of what should be included on a media center webpage! I agree with Susan G. that links to AR can be helpful.
ReplyDeleteReading this list was very encouraging to me, because it reminds me that my media center webpage contains most of this! One thing I could add would be some instructions and guides as you suggest.
Thanks for a well-written and comprehensive post! :)
I agree that the school's media center web page should be easy to find from the school's home page. Most often times (in Henry County especially) the web pages look messy, complicated, and cluttered. Schools are increasingly encouraging students and parents to use their web pages, but something should be done about the quality of these web pages. It is great getting a student/parent to visit the site, so we should strive to keep them there with a well laid out website. As time continues, I feel that websites will be a standard resource for schools and more design options will become available. As media specialists we should keep up with the trends and study how to create attractive but not distractive web pages.
ReplyDeleteWhen creating a media center homepage, there are so many links and blogs that are a necessity for the website to be useful and relevant. You listed many topics that should be included on a media center website. You also mentioned that the webpage should be updated and kept current. This is so true. With our world revolving so much around technology, most parents, and staff look to webpage for all current and pertinent information. Since this is much easier to update than a handwritten newsletter or some type of book or brochure, it should be the top priority of the media center, either the specialist, parapro or parent volunteer. The website should also be user friendly and easy to navigate like you said. These days everyone wants things now and fast and in a hurry. Parents and teachers and even students don't want to hunt for information or answers. In our school system, we are required as teachers to keep a classroom webpage. It is also required that we updated it monthly. Parents also look to the webpage for information and important dates. If those things aren't current, parents would be out of the loop. And we all know that parents that are involved, means their students are involved and academics improve. So there are many reasons for a media center webpage, and you did a good job of listing the important criteria for it.
ReplyDelete