Topic 6 501 School library website

The provision of a school library website is another means to increase the profile of the library within the school community - Topic 6 501. The benefits of having a school library website are numerous, but includes:

• the library becomes the information hub of the school. It's the first point of call for students and staff information needs.
• information on the library website (e.g. OPAC, pathfinders, information literacy scaffolds, access to databases, search engine info ...) is accessible to staff and students WHEN they need it - both in and out of school.
• raises the profile of teacher librarians and highlights their skills and expertise in providing a rich and diverse range of information services to the school community.
• further tapping into the online world our 21st Century learners are so immersed in - it's another way in which to engage students in their learning.
• to support the curriculum (and teaching and learning).
• improvement to communications between school library and school community.
• parents have access to resources are kept informed about assignments and study aids
  

Silveinnoinen (2005) says TLs in schools without a library website must be proactive. The website doesn't replace print items but enhances the other services of the library. The website is a library without walls or time constraints and is a great marketing tool.

Joyce Valenza's WebQuest on school library websites http://schoollibrarywebsites.wikispaces.com/ is a useful resource for evaluating school library websites, and no doubt should be consulted when creating a school library website. Valenza's website is detailed and includes information broadly confined to two areas:
website features and content - information access and delivery, teaching and learning, books and reading, program administration.

Characteristics of websites - navigation, school/curricular information, aesthetics & audience appeal, interactivity and freshness.

Herring in topic 6 says that there will be added value to the library's information service if it is linked to information literacy guides. This helps to ensure the students see a direct link between the use of a variety of information resources and the need to apply information literacy skills. Providing a guide or scaffold to the use of information resources enhances the value of the resources and help to ensure that students approach the resources in the correct manner. The following is a link to resources on creating a school library website http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/wpages.html

References: Silveinnoinen, A. (2005). Virtual St Mary's : a journey to cyberspace. Access, 19(3), pp.19-22.