Bob Whalen slm521mc – Library Sites Elective

Building a School Library Site Checklist

1. Have an objective for you library website. Address the purpose of your website and the clients that you serve. Make sure it is in kid friendly language. This sets the tone for your website and gives you a focus.

2. Have your school name and Media Center on your page. You might include the address or at least school phone number. This identifies your website.

3. Keep your main page simple and provide links to other pages in your website. Make sure that the reader can return back to your main page – Making it user friendly. Keep items in a specific order, possibly alphabetical order. This encourages people to use your website since it should be easy to follow and understandable.

4. On the main page have an outline of your site. This gives the user an overview of your Media Center. Possible categories to include are:

a. About the Media Center – This gives an overview of the needs that your media center serves. Link to another page and include the following:

1. Philosophy/Objective

2. Staff of the Media Center

3. Hours

4. Checkout Procedures

5. Newspaper

6. Reserves

7. Overdue notices

8. Learning Hub (Computers)

9. After school use

10. Internet Use

11. Collection at a Glance – How many books, periodicals, videos, online subscriptions, camcorders, audiotapes, etc.?

b. Curriculum Links for Student Research – This connects the media center to the various academic subjects it serves. Link to another page and provide resources/websites related to curriculum research as:

1. English – Heroes

Persuasive Essays

2. Health – Diseases

Drugs

3. History – American Revolution

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Greece

Ancient Rome

Civil War

Middle Ages

World Wars I & II

4. Math

5. Science – Astronomy & Solar System

Hurricane Unit

c. Reference – This lets the user know what the media center has to offer in terms of research. Link to another page and include the following:

1. Dictionaries, Thesauri, and Other Tools

2. Encyclopedias and Almanacs – Off & Online

3. Periodical Databases

4. Newspapers

5. Search Engines

6. Other Sources & Reference Sites

d. Reading List – This gives a listing of books in the media center by category and allows the reader to survey books on line. Link to another page and include the following:

1. Historical Fiction

2. Classics

3. Fantasy

4. Mystery

5. Survival

6. Historical Fiction

7. Multicultural Fiction

8. Science Fiction

9. Sports Fiction

e. Special Programs – This is unique to your media center and lets the user know special interests and ways they can use the media center. Link to another page for Summer Reading Program, Black-Eyed Susan Reading Program, Author Information Page, Media Links, etc.

f. Citing Sources Link – This helps the researcher know the correct bibliographical format, especially with such a variety of resources today. – Link to another page and give the proper bibliographical format for:

a. Books

b. Internet

c. Encyclopedias

d. Periodicals

e. Interviews

5. Have “Last Updated” on your page, in order that viewers may know how recently your site has been maintained.

6. Have a picture of your Media Center and students working. This makes for an inviting and working media center.

7. Your page should be easy to read so people will use it and want to return to it!