What Should Be on a School Library Web Page?” by Donna Baumbach Et

Leaders Sharing Media Matters

s varied as the schools and What Should Be the communities they serve, A so too are the Web pages for the library media programs that serve on a School Library them. School library media programs and library media specialists are Web Page? resources for teaching and learning. They provide technology, print and nonprint materials, instruction, and organization to help teachers and students access and use information. The school library media Web page is a recent development, but as schools, classrooms, and society have become connected to the Internet, media specialists throughout the world are designing and maintaining Web pages for their programs. You will want to begin by fol- lowing some general guidelines for effective Web design, ensuring that your site is easily navigated by all different types of users and viewable in many different browsers. We give more specifi c guidelines in the online supplement, so we can spend our time here talking about Donna and her co-authors discuss the information you may include. Be- essential information, resources, and lieve us, there is no set formula for an links to include when you are creating effective school library media center or revamping your site. (LMC) Web page, but here are some of the things you might include on yours: By Donna Baumbach, Sally • online catalogs for not only your Brewer, and Matt Renfroe school LMC but also other libraries Subject: Information architecture, your students might use curriculum and literacy resources • reference resources and assistance • curriculum connections Technology: Internet/Web • literacy connections • general information about your Supplement: http://www.iste.org/LL/ LMC

46 Learning & Leading with Technology Volume 32 Number 1 Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Media Matters

Online Public Access Catalogs High school students in Advanced Resources such as Infotrac, SIRS, and With the advent of Web-based online Placement or dual-enrollment courses Newsbank not only provide citations catalogs, students and faculty no lon- (courses that provide both high and abstracts but also full text articles ger have to go to the physical library school and college credit) may need with graphics. With 24/7 access, stu- to view the catalog. The window that access to academic libraries. By in- dents can do research any time they fi rst brought a world of information cluding a link to the state’s academic have access to the Internet. into the library is now being used library network, you serve students to share information with those in in these courses and the faculty who Reference Assistance remote locations. Teachers and stu- teach them. If students are able to access reference dents can use their computers to ac- One last link to an online catalog materials on the Internet, they also cess the library’s collection 24/7. They that may be useful for teachers and may need reference assistance. This can fi nd the items they need, deter- their students is a link to the state could include tips for planning their mine if the items are available, and library’s catalog. Although these searches, using Boolean operators, or put a hold on them. In many cases, libraries were created to support gov- evaluating Web sites. Library guides they can even manage their accounts ernment offi cials, their collections are or “how-to” sheets on the LMC’s Web by checking due dates and renewing often available to the general public. page provide assistance when you are items online. not available. One resource that is a If information is expanding expo- Reference Resources favorite with students is Citation nentially, however, so are students’ Do you keep your Internet browser Machine, which helps them create and teachers’ needs for it. School open so that you can fi nd answers correct reference citations. For stu- LMC budgets cannot keep pace, so quickly even when you are working dents who don’t need answers imme- linking to other online catalogs and in other programs? Have you replaced diately, include an e-mail link to the sharing resources with other schools your print reference resources with reference desk. and library consortia can help with ones on the Internet? We have. And both problems. If the school LMC is more important, students have. Ac- Curriculum Connections a member of a larger database—such cording to a September 2001 study Because the school LMC and its as district or state catalogs—make by the Pew Internet & American Life collection support the curriculum, sure you include a link to that re- Project, 94% of youth ages 12–17 your school library media Web page source to provide teachers and who have Internet access say they use should be an extension of that. Many students with access to materials in the Internet for school research and library media Web sites provide links other libraries. (Editor’s note: Find 78% say they believe the Internet to current and relevant resources for this and other URLs under resources helps them with schoolwork. standards and benchmarks included on p. 51.) They can then request the You should include links to both in teacher’s lesson plans. Library materials they need using an inter- free and subscription-based reference media specialists extend collabora- library loan form, which you could resources on the Internet—after you tive efforts with classroom teachers make available on the Web site. This review them, of course. Although during a particular unit of study by enables students to access materials many of the high-quality electronic helping to locate and link to relevant wherever they exist, helps save dol- resources are fee-based, there also are online resources for students. Start by lars at the local school, and provides a number of reliable free resources, identifying and using keywords from a service tailored to each individual’s including not only traditional refer- objectives, benchmarks, and standards needs. ence resources (e.g., bibliographies, as starting points, or using popular Because the mission of the school encyclopedias, geographical resources, educational Web resources such as LMC is to support the school’s curric- biographical resources, “ready refer- Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators ulum, its collection usually is focused ence,” government documents), but or Knowledge Network Explorer’s on that goal. The collection may also Web sites where students can Blue Web’n to fi nd recommended include some books and magazines contact experts in various fi elds or and reviewed sites. Some online cata- related to students’ personal interests. receive help with their writing. logs also include selected Web sites. To provide a broader range of materi- Most of the indexes that were once One way to help teachers and stu- als, include a link to the local public in print or on CD-ROM are now dents is to organize sites by subject library. available on the Internet for a fee. area, by department or teacher, or

September 2004 Learning & Leading with Technology 47 Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Media Matters even by Dewey number like the rest International Association of School can I talk to about a research project? of the collection. Librarians maintains a “Today Is…” These are all questions that undoubt- You may also include links just for page of resources to help connect edly will arise, and you can easily teachers, such as links to subject area curriculum to celebrations.) answer them online. professional resources and standards, • Featuring study tips and tricks that A section about the library might lesson plan databases, government re- will help students and teachers. For contain the hours of operation, con- sources for teaching and learning, and example, before high-stakes test- tact information (including the ad- technology tools (e.g., quiz, puzzle, ing, describe things students can do dress for those viewing the site from and Web page generators). before and during the test to ease off-campus), a link to your school's Finally, you can get teachers and anxiety and improve performance. home page, and information about students to help with reviewing sites • Providing links to Web sites that the staff. Pictures of the media center by including a form to suggest a cur- will reinforce classroom efforts and and staff share its character and help riculum-related Web site. Also include student achievement in vocabulary introduce those working in the media tips for evaluating Web sites to help development, comprehension, writ- center. This makes it easier for teach- students think critically about the in- ing, speaking, listening, informa- ers and students to identify those formation they fi nd on their own. tion literacy, and research. who can help with research and other • Describing school reading programs projects. You could include a map Literacy such as Accelerated Reader, Reading (with Dewey numbers marked) and a Because today’s school LMCs grew Counts, and Read 180, and show- virtual tour to acclimate students to out of school libraries, and because ing how the school library media the physical location. If students al- reading is so important to the cur- collection and services play an inte- ready know where to look for materi- riculum, reading and literacy continue gral part in those programs. als, they will have more confi dence in to be central to the LMC mission. • Highlighting authors of children’s their information literacy skills. Although classroom teachers’ efforts and young adult literature. An online patron guide includes focus on teaching strategies to help • Highlighting community reading rules for library use, policies, and students build vocabulary and increase efforts and events. procedures. Information about cir- comprehension, the school LMC • Linking to reading lists and high- culation procedures, behavior poli- gives students a place to practice what quality literacy sites. cies, acceptable use policies, or when they learn with materials they enjoy. • Providing book reviews by students, classes and/or students can visit is School libraries have been shown to faculty, library media staff, and ad- found in this section. This is helpful infl uence reading scores while class- ministrators to reinforce the impor- for parents as well as for teachers and room libraries do not, and print-rich tance of reading. students. environments—for example, the • Including photographs of students LMC with its wide variety of fi ction (and others in the school commu- Dynamic Material and nonfi ction books and electronic As mentioned earlier, you can high- and digital resources—encourage nity) caught in the act of reading. (Make sure before you post these light new materials to keep teachers voluntary reading, the best predictor and students returning to the Web of literacy, as researcher Michele Lon- photos that this use of student images complies with school and dis- page. This keeps teachers apprised of sdale concluded in a 2003 report for new materials that can enhance their the Australian School Library Associa- trict policies.) • Including a “wish list” of books and lessons. You can showcase commonly tion. The LMC Web site can support checked-out books, even creating a literacy by: other items needed in the LMC that others may purchase if they Top 10 list each month or quarter. • Featuring new books and materials want to donate to the school or li- This creates a “buzz” and encourages in the school LMC. brary media program. other students to take a look at what • Showcasing magazine holdings and their peers are reading. full-text database subscriptions. You should change the highlighted Another way to keep people com- • Promoting books and media that items often to keep the site fresh and ing back to LMC Web pages is to support a school, classroom, or bring people back to see what is new. provide links to “word of the day,” special theme including those of “problem of the week,” “today in his- the LMC: Book Week, Teen Read General Information tory,” “quote of the day,” and similar Week, National School Library When is the LMC open? What do Web sites. They may also link to Media Month, and so on. (The I need to check out materials? Who current news, sports, weather, and

September 2004 Learning & Leading with Technology 49 Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Media Matters

 Although no single LMC site maymay need all the elements discussed in this article, the Roseburg (Oregon) High School Library site features those most relevant for the school’s students and teachers.  This Virtual Middle School Library can provide a guide for you in deciding which materials to include on your site. education features of interest to the Lenhart, A., Simon, M., & Graziano, M. Dr.Dr. DonnaDonna BaumbachBaumbach has school community. (2001). The Internet & Education: been a faculty member at UCF Findings of the Pew Internet & American for most of her career.career. A profes-profes- You already know that the resourc- Life Project. Available: http://www. sor in the College of Educa-Educa- es offered in your LMC are essential pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp? tion, her areasareas of specialization to the school community. The LMC Report=39 areare school librarylibrary media and Web page offers you a tool to ensure Lonsdale, M. (2003, March). Impact of School educational technology.technology. SShehe that teachers and students know that, Libraries on Student Achievement: A Review is directordirector of the SUNLINK project,project, Florida’sFlorida’s of the Research. Report Prepared for the K–12 public school union catalog. too. Evaluate what your Web page Australian School Library Association. includes, what it is missing, and what Available: http://www.asla.org.au/research/ Dr.Dr. SallySally BrewerBrewer is an associ- it no longer needs. Your school com- Newsbank: http://www.newsbank.com/ ate professorprofessor at the UniversityUniversity munity will thank you. Planning Your Library Web Site: http:// of Montana-Missoula,Montana-Missoula, wherewhere www.infosearcher.com/cybertours/tours/ she teaches librarylibrary media and tour07/_tourlaunch1.htm technologytechnology courses. Read 180: http://teacher.scholastic.com/ Resources read180/ Accelerated Reader: http://www.renlearn.com/ Reading Counts: http://src.scholastic.com/ ar/ ecatalog/readingcounts/ MattMatt RenfroeRenfroe has been the ALA Calendar of Promotional Events for Resources for School Librarians: http:// WebmasterWebmaster for the UCF/DOE Libraries and Literacy: http://www.ala.org/ www.sldirectory.com/libsf/reslibs.html InstructionalInstructional TTechnologyechnology RRe-e- ala/pio/piocalendar/literacycalendar/ Roseburg (OR) High School Library: http:// sourcesource CCenterenter for moremore than calendarliteracy.htm www.roseburg.k12.or.us/rhs/library.html eight years.years. HeHe is also the Blue Web’n: http://www.kn.pacbell.com/ School Libraries.NET: http://www.school- WebmasterWebmaster for the SUNLINK wired/bluewebn/ libraries.net/ project.project. Citation Machine: http://www.landmark- School-Libraries.org: http://www.school- project.com/citation_machine/ libraries.org/resources/ Doug Johnson edits L&L’s Media Matters Infotrac: http://www.infotrac.com/ School Libraries on the Web: http://www. column. He has been director of media and International Association of School Librarians’ sldirectory.com/ technology for the Mankato (Minnesota) Public “Today Is…” page: http://www.iasl-slo.org/ SIRS: http://www.sirs.com Schools since 1991. Doug is a veteran author today.html SUNLINK: http://www.sunlink.ucf.edu/ whose works have appeared in books, journals, Kathy Schrock’s Guide for Educators: http:// Virtual Middle School Library: http:// and magazines and serves on ISTE’s board of school.discovery.com/schrockguide/ www.sldirectory.com/virtual.html directors.

September 2004 Learning & Leading with Technology 51 Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Online Supplement

This is a supplement to “What Should Be on a School Library Web Page?” by Donna Baumbach et. al. Items to Consider Including on School Library Media Center Web Pages

General Information ▫ Grade/age appropriate search instmat/home0015.htm ▫ Name of school and school library engines Research Cycle, http:// media center ▫ Selected online databases (periodi- questioning.org/rcycle.html ▫ Contact information cals and reference) Research Process, http:// ▫ Address ▫ Lists/descriptions of current witloof.sjsu.edu/courses/ ▫ Phone number LMC newspapers and periodical 250.loertscher/modelstrip.html ▫ E-mail address subscriptions Information Search Process (ISP), ▫ Staff names, titles and e-mail ▫ Local news sources http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/ addresses (or one library e-mail ▫ State and national new sources ~kuhlthau/Search%20Process.htm address) ▫ Local and state weather InfoZone, http:// ▫ Mission statement for school library ▫ Information about reading www.assd.winnipeg.ca/infozone/ media center (and perhaps how that programs (e.g., Accelerated I-Search, http://www. relates to school mission/purpose/ Reader, http://www.renlearn.com/ literacymatters.org/content/ objectives) ar/default.htm isearch.intro.htm) ▫ LMC hours Reading Counts, http:// ▫ Online tools to help with research ▫ LMC policies/procedures src.scholastic.com/ecatalog/ and reporting: graphic organizers, ▫ Date of last Web page update readingcounts/ citation and bibliography tools, ▫ Site map Lexiles, http://www.lexile.com/Des note taking tools, ▫ Photographs of staff, students, ktopDefault.aspx?view=pa&tabinde ▫ Frequently used writing and faculty facilities, special events (in x=1&tabid=27&tabpageid=97 research tools: dictionary, keeping with school and district policy Battle of the Books, http:// thesaurus, etc. about photographs on Web sites) www.akla.org/akasl/bb/ ▫ Writing and style guides ▫ Clip art (observe licensing arrange- bbhome.html state reading ▫ Study skills and tips ments and copyright law) programs) ▫ Test taking tips ▫ Recommended reading lists for all ▫ Resources for Teachers Links To student reading levels and interests ▫ Links to information literacy ▫ School Web page (and be sure the ▫ School book or reading clubs standards school Web page links to the LMC) ▫ Book reviews by students, faculty, ▫ Links to state and or district ▫ School LMC Online Public Access staff standards Catalog (OPAC) ▫ Other book review sites ▫ Links to lesson plans, electronic ▫ District and/or state union catalog ▫ Information about and links to in- gradebook, district resources, ▫ Other school libraries in the district formation literacy (standards, evalu- ▫ Anything useful to teachers and ▫ Public library ation forms, models, tools, etc.) administrators ▫ Community college and/or college ▫ Steps in your schoolwide research ▫ Resources for specifi c teachers’ libraries model(s) (e.g., Big6, http:// units and assignments ▫ State library www.big6.com/ ▫ Resources for parents ▫ Appropriate virtual libraries FLIP-IT, http://www.aliceinfo.org/ ▫ Subject area resources to fi t your ▫ Government resources FLIPit.html curriculum ▫ Frequently requested resources FINDS, http://www.fi rn.edu/doe/ ▫ Useful forms (teacher forms: plan-

Learning & Leading with Technology Volume 32 Number 1

This is a supplement to “What Should Be on a School Library Web Page?” by Donna Baumbach et. al.

ning and materials requests, reserve Library Month, etc.) See ALA cal- materials, suggestion forms, etc. endar link below. and student forms: permission to ▫ Links to online gradebook (pass- tape or use images, checklists, tem- word protected) plates, materials requests, ILL, sug- ▫ Link to live “Ask a Librarian” re- gestion forms, etc.) source if available ▫ Tutorials (created in house or lo- ▫ Links to song lyrics cated elsewhere online) for students ▫ Links to popular cartoon sites and teachers: technology, research, ▫ Links to word of the day, math writing, etc. problem of the day, question of the ▫ Slide shows and PowerPoint pre- day, puzzle of the day, resource of sentations (created by LMC staff, the day, etc. teachers and/or students) ▫ Counters to track Web page use (for reports and evaluation) Announcements ▫ Photos and descriptions of spe- ▫ New materials cial physical features of the LMC: ▫ Special LMC events and related sculpture, art, murals, windows, resources (book fairs, family nights, new arrangements, displays changing hours, special guests, one ▫ WebQuests and learning games de- school/one book events) veloped by library media specialist ▫ Special school events and related and staff resources (fi eld day, prom, home- ▫ LMC annual report coming, SAT or other testing days, ▫ LMC statistics graduation, etc.) ▫ What research says about LMCs ▫ School newsletter, LMC newsletter ▫ Quotations about libraries, books, or LMC column in school newslet- technology, learning, etc. ter or paper ▫ Quotations from your happy LMC patrons (students, teachers, parents, Miscellaneous administrators) ▫ Information about famous or well- ▫ LMC recognition by others: respected alumni awards, media mentions, Web page ▫ Information about school/ awards faculty/student awards and accomplishments ▫ LMC “tip of the day” ▫ Contests (and winners) ▫ Information about special events and holidays with related resources (American Pickle Week, National

September 2004 Learning & Leading with Technology

Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Online Supplement This is a supplement to “What Should Be on a School Library Web Page?” by Donna Baumbach et. al. Useful Web Sites for Planning and Maintaining LMC Web Pages

Example Pages Writing School Library Web Pages piocalendar/literacycalendar/ School-Libraries.net http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/resf/ calendarliteracy.htm http://www.school-libraries.net/ wpages.html The American Library Association Created by school library media spe- Links to dozens of resources to help lists library-themed events, such as cialist Peter Milbury, this directory you create and maintain a SLMC Teen Read Week, National Library lists Web pages created or maintained Web page. Week, and Library Card Sign-up by school library media specialists Month here. Links to information Six Steps for Web Design worldwide. Updated monthly. about promoting these events also is http://www.siec.k12.in.us/~west/ provided. School Libraries on the Web online/steps.htm http://www.sldirectory.com/ Tips from Tammy Payton about ef- General Web Design Tools Library media specialist Linda Bert- fective school Web page design with and Guidelines land maintains this directory of additional links to resources. Steps Design Tenets for Web Pages school library media centers on the apply to a school library media center http://www.bham.wednet.edu/ Web. Web page as well as other school Web technology/webtenets.htm pages. From “less is more” to “have a com- LMC Page Planning Tools mittee review the pages before pub- School-Libraries.org Resources to Include on Your lishing on the Web” these are excel- http://www.school-libraries.org/ Web Pages lent guidelines for all schools and resources/ Resources for School Librarians SLMCs as well. From Bellingham These online resources help school http://www.sldirectory.com/libsf/ (Washington) Public Schools. library media specialists make effec- reslibs.html tive use of the Internet. A comprehensive listing of links in Separating the Wheat from the Chaff: information literacy, information ac- Planning Your Library Web Site How to Tell the Good Web Sites from cess, technology and other topics that http://www.infosearcher.com/ the Bad could be useful in developing a school cybertours/tours/tour07/_ http://school.discovery.com/ library media center Web page. tourlaunch1.htm schrockguide/chaff.html A cybertour of school library media Why and How to Use Blogs to Pro- Kathy Schrock summarizes lessons Web pages, pointing out some of the mote Library Services learned from looking at thousands best sites along the way! Ideas for http://www.infotoday.com/mls/ and thousands of Web sites. Includes developing and organizing a school nov03/fi chter.shtml links to instruments your students library media center Web page. In this article, Darlene Fichter de- and teachers will fi nd useful in evalu- scribes how blogs, short for Web logs, ating Web sites and information. Creating a Web Page for Your can benefi t libraries of all kinds and School Library Creating School Web Pages how they can be integrated into Web http://www.iasl-slo.org/ http://eduscapes.com/tap/ pages. creatingweb.html topic61.htm Ideas and resources for creating and ALA Calendar of Promotional Events Annette Lamb shows you how to ex- evaluating your school library media for Libraries and Literacy plore, plan, design, create, and revise Web pages. http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/ good school Web pages.

Learning & Leading with Technology Volume 32 Number 1

Copyright © 2004, ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education), 1.800.336.5191 (U.S. & Canada) or 1.541.302.3777 (Int’l), [email protected], www.iste.org. All rights reserved. Online Supplement (cont.) This is a supplement to “What Should Be on a School Library Web Page?” by Donna Baumbach et. al.

Web Design That Won’t Get You Into Trouble http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/ jun01/kennedy.htm How to avoid legal trouble when creating a Web page: copyright, links, accessibility, advertising, fi rst amend- ment issues, and other things you may not have thought about but don’t want to hear about from a lawyer. Includes links to related legal sites for non-lawyers. The Usable Web http://usableweb.com/ More than 1,000 links to articles and sites to help you develop the most usable Web site possible. Everything you need to know and more. Richard Waller Web Site Evaluation: Seven-Point Checklist http://www.waller.co.uk/ usability16.htm Things to have and things not to have on any Web site. The Virtual Middle School Library: Writing Your Own Web Page http://www.sldirectory.com/compf/ write.html#top Designed for middle schoolers but useful for school library media specialists, this page offers links to the basics involved in creating and maintaining a Web page: HTML editors, elements of Web design, cascading style sheets, writing for different browsers, graphics, backgrounds, counters, promoting your Web site, and tools for validating your Web site and checking for accessibility.

September 2004 Learning & Leading with Technology