Library Websites Best Practices and New Findings rhslibrary.org/ppt/library_websites.ppt Library Websites Best Practices and New Findings Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Joyce Valenza’s Evaluation Model “The library Web page is your second front door.” “The effective library Web page pulls together ... all of the library’s resources--print and electronic.” “It offers guidance while it fosters independent learning.” “It models careful selection.” “It offers valuable public service and can redefine ‘community’.” "It can even lead users back to print.” “A good library Web page offers implicit instruction and projects an important image of the librarian as an information professional.” 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Provides Second Front Door Open 24/7/365 Gives access to many resources which can be used for homework Teachers assignments Pathfinders Catalog with links to full text ebooks and websites 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Integrates All Resources Access to all different media from one site Catalog which indexes all media including print and non-print, websites and ebooks Pages of links or bookmarks Public library links 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Guides Independent Learning Research guides Citation guidelines Web pages of links to specific topics 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Models Careful Selection Selected search tools which the LMT knows and teaches how to use Links to web directories/indexes Cataloging of selected web sites and ebooks Site index 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Offers Public Service Events calendars Online ordering Newsletters Suggestion box Book review sharing 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Redefines Community Available to everyone Newsletters Volunteers’ pages Events lists 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Leads Users to Print Book reviews & booklists OPAC List of periodical subscriptions How to find poetry/plays/fiction sheets 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Offers Implicit Instruction Research Handbook Orientation Finding Information on the Internet How to use the Readers’ Guide Web evaluation guide 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Projects Librarian as an Information Professional Staff page Policy statements Teacher-librarian collaboration 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

IASL/Concord Award Criteria rhslibrary.org/ppt/library_websites.ppt IASL/Concord Award Criteria school library/librarian involvement in site development; relevance to the goals and objectives of the school library; visual appeal; organization of information; quality of the writing and use of language; ease of use of the page/site, and navigational features; educational, information, entertainment, or public relations value of the page/site; appropriateness for the needs of users; evidence of update policy and currency of information and links; technical quality; value as a model for other school libraries/librarians. 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Other Good Criteria Websites Donna Baumbach, et al. have written two articles about the contents of school library websites: What Should Be on Your School Library Media Page? FETConnections Summer 2005. Florida Educational Technology Corp. What Should Be on a School Library Web Page? Learning & Leading with Technology Sept. 2004. ISTE. [available only to subscribers] 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Items to Consider Including on School Library Web Pages General Information Name of school and LMC Contact information Address, phone, fax, email Staff names and titles Mission statement LMC particulars Hours Policies and procedures Site map Announcements New materials Special events Library newsletter Miscellaneous Info about famous alums “Tip of the day” “Quote of the day” Links to special events Photos of LMC LMC annual report/statistics LMC recognition by others 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

More Items to Consider Including Links To Local OPAC and other library’s catalogs Search engines Online databases Lists of periodicals News sources Reading lists Book reviews Online tools to help with research Dictionaries/thesauruses Citation guides Study skills and tips Resources for teachers Lesson plans Specific teacher assignments Resources for librarians Resources for library staff State and district standards Resources for parents Subject area resources Useful forms and handouts Online tutorials Slide shows 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

No-noes on a School Library Website No links from school home page Static pages Flash introductions, uncontrollable music or sound Lack of basic or contact information Not indicating which resources are available from “school only” Providing user names and passwords on website Too many clicks to get anywhere Little or no useful information Links that aren’t obvious Animations that don’t quit One long page 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Thing That Make a Library Website Ugly Inaccessibility to potential users Links that don’t Not indicating file or download formats or requirements Bad grammar, spelling, punctuation Lack of legibility, e.g. busy or dark backgrounds Unpleasant aesthetics 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Librarian Involved in Site Development Minkel, W. Who runs your Web site? It should be you. School Library Journal. 1 Nov. 2002. http://slj.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA254378&display=TechKnowledgeNews&industry=TechKnowledge&industryid=1997&verticalid=152&publication=slj 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Value as a Model Some exemplary web sites P.L. Duffy Resource Center IASL/Concord Web Page Award University Laboratory High School Library Chico High School Library Oxnard High School Library Information Center Springfield Township High School Virtual Library Westminster School Library The Resource Center Birtles Library 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA General Resources Writing School Library Web Pages HomeMaker for Libraries School Libraries on the Web Work Horse or Show Pony? Writing for the Web: A Primer for Librarians The School Library as Information Provider Learning and Teaching with Web Resources Secrets of Great School Web Sites (pdf) 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

URL for This Presentation http://rhslibrary.org/PPT/Library_Websites.ppt And thanks for your kind attention at the end of a long conference! 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA

Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA Acknowledgements Ball, J. (2002) Work Horse or Show Pony? http://users.tpg.com.au/welwel/showpony/ (Nov. 8, 2003) Baumbach, D. et al. (2004) What Should Be on a School Library Web Page? Learning & Leading with Technology Sept. 2004. ISTE. http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Publications/LL/LLIssues/200414/September2/September_2004.htm (Nov. 8, 2005) [available to subscribers only] ----------. (2005) What Should Be on Your School Library Media Page? FETConnections Summer 2005. Florida Educational Technology Corp. http://www.fetc.org/fetcon/2005-Summer/baumbach-brewer-renfroe.cfm (Nov. 8, 2005) Clyde, L. (1997) The School Library as Information provider: The Home Page. http://www.hi.is/~anne/slhomepage.html. (Nov. 8, 2003) ----------. School Library Web Sites: The State of the Art. 2000. http://www.hi.is/~anne/isis2000.html. (Nov. 8, 2003) IASL/Concord School Library Web Page Awards. Selection Criteria. http://www.iasl-slo.org/web_criteria.html. (Oct. 24, 2003) Minkel, W. Who runs your Web site? It should be you. School Library Journal. 1 Nov. 2002. http://slj.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA254378&display=TechKnowledgeNews&industry=TechKnowledge&industryid=1997&verticalid=152&publication=slj Schell, E. Writing for the Web: A Primer for Librarians. 1995-2002. http://bones.med.ohio-state.edu/eric/papers/primer/wbdocs.html. (Nov. 8, 2003) Valenza, J. A WebQuest about School Library Web Sites. http://mciunix.mciu.k12.pa.us/~spjvweb/evallib.html. (Oct. 24, 2003) 11/21/2018 Tom Kaun, Library Media Teacher, Redwood High School, Larkspur CA