Catherine Johnson

5 November 2005

Elective Activity – Instruction - School Library Media Sites

Components Included in a School Library Media Website

I have made a list of things that I would like to see on a library media site. Most of what I’ve listed I have personally wished for outside of class.

1) Easy information to follow on how to search for a:

Book

Magazine

Journal articles

Videos/DVDs

2) A Search Engine that Works. Meaning you get hits on what you searched for, such as the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” not books on birds, or killing, or how to varnish you new oak dresser.

3) Links that are active, and not broken.

4) Plenty of subscriptions to different online journals.

5) A site that is updated often. I get turned off when I go visit a website that says it hasn’t been updated for years. It’s out-of-date.

6) A HELP section that is helpful, and includes a list of FAQ’s under topics.

7) Not just information to find a book’s call number, but maybe if it’s a big library, directions to get to the book.. This may be a joke, but I know a lot of people who avoid big libraries because they can’t find anything. I’m one of them. If directions were included, obviously the library wouldn’t want to rearrange books locations very often, but that still would be a help.

8) A place to activate your library card online, instead of having to drive to the library, wait for a librarian, and have them do it.

9) An Employment Section. It’s annoying if you’re trying to find a job online and sites don’t list an employment section.