Mrs. Vilella's
School Library Media Website Components
A school library is a place that the community should be involved in. Having a comprehensive website is a great way to get your students and their families interested in what's going on in the library and take advantage of the resources that are available to them. Designing an up-to-date and informative website will let users know that there is more to the school library than just checking out books. There are exciting activities, events, and technology resources waiting for them to take advantage of. Below is a list of what components I believe are important to a school Library media website.
1. Objectives/Mission Statement
Objectives let the user know what the sites purpose is. Without objectives sites tend to get sloppy and there is no reasoning behind what is put on the site. Put your objectives or your library's mission statement at the beginning so that users know what you are trying to achieve.
2. Up-to-date Calendar
Calendars will give all users a heads up on what is going on in the library. This is a great place to list book fair dates, due dates, and any special happenings. It is very important to keep the calendar updated! Nothing is worse than a calendar two months old when you want to know what is going on now.
3. Recommended Educational Sites
Some parents and students are overwhelmed by the large number of educational sites available to them. Having a list of recommended sites on your library media site could be of great use to them. These sites could be dealing with assignments that you know are going on at different grade levels within the school or general sites that you think the students and their families will find helpful. Having a list of educational sites would also be helpful to those students and parents looking for a fun and different way to practice their skills. Make sure to include an annotation of the sites to help parents and students chose the site that is right for them. Also include the site address so if your link does not work correctly they can still access the site on their own.
4. Book Lists
Book lists are a great way to get all students reading books that are interesting and appropriate for them. All library media sites should include a wide variety of lists for all ages and ability levels. These could be teacher recommended lists by grade level, lists of award winners, or lists recommended by other students. This is also a great way to help parents choose appropriate books for their child.
5. Recommended Reference Sites
Just like educational sites, there are tons of reference sites out there on the web. Providing links to reference sites can take the stress out of finding information. It can also help students and parents recognize the qualities of a good reference site so that they may find their own in the future. This section should provide links to resources such as online encyclopedias or periodical databases. Don't forget to include an annotation and the site address.
6. Virtual Library Tour
What better way to get students and parents interested in visiting your library than giving them a virtual tour! Allow users to get a taste of what your library has to offer by showing off all of your hard work and organization. You may want to show pictures of the different areas/sections of your library as well as photos from past events. This may make many users more comfortable with coming in to use your library!
7. Author Sites
Give students the opportunity to learn about their favorite authors. This will help students relate more to the author and become more excited about what they are reading. They can learn about the author's background, find out what inspired the author to write a certain book, and find other books written by that author. Links to author sites give students a more personal connection to what they are reading.
8. Parent Resources
Provide a section of annotated links and resources just for parents. Find sites that would be helpful to parents relating to education and parenting. Give the parents a place to go that is strictly for them when they need help and guidance. This makes a strong link between home and school. Let the parents know that we are there to help them.
9. Library Policies and Procedures
Let the parents and students know exactly what you expect of them when they enter your library. Explain general information about how the library works. List rules, policies, checkout and return procedures, and daily schedules.
10. Link to the School Home page
The school home page often has additional links and resources to help both students and parents. Here you can often find school wide schedules, policies, procedures, and specific grade level links. This will give parents and students even more important information at their fingertips.