Even ten years ago, a common question for many media specialists might have been, “Do I need a webpage for my media center?” But, in just the past decade, the use of digital information has exploded! More families now have internet access at home and, as prices have become more reasonable for “smartphones” and “data plans,” an ever increasing number of patrons now have mobile internet access. In this age of information, a media center webpage is now a must. Now, the better questions for a media specialist might be, “What do my patrons expect from a webpage?” and “How much time should I devote to my webpage?”
Time is a precious commodity to educators and a media specialist needs to wisely allocate her time towards providing information in a format that best suits patron needs. In designing and maintaining a media center webpage, it is important for a media specialist to be familiar with her patron population. Patrons should be surveyed to gain an understanding of the percentage that have internet access and the frequency in which they utilize the internet. In our school district, students, teachers, and parents are required to sign an “Internet User Agreement.” This agreement also functions as an internet survey and requests information about household internet usage. This is one way to get a fairly accurate measure of student internet availability.
A media specialist can then use survey results to determine the extent to which she will need to develop and maintain her media center webpage. For instance, students in an affluent district will most likely have more students with internet access and will demand more digital resources. A media specialist with a patron group of this type would be wise to devote a large amount of time to maintaining and updating the media center webpage. Utilizing a more interactive format such as a blog or wiki with these patrons would also be beneficial and wise.
On the other hand, in the school district in which I teach, about fifty percent of our students come from economically disadvantaged households. A majority of our students do not have internet access. Of course, as media specialists, we still need to provide students with a quality webpage, but I believe that we can not get too caught up in the digital age and forget those less-fortunate students whose economic situations have forced them to be left behind. In dealing with a patron population such as this, our time might be better served providing library programming that reaches out to those without digital resources. After all, it is often the students from low socio-economic homes that struggle academically.
In spite of the patron population, I believe there are minimum resources that a media center webpage should provide. At all school levels, access to the library collection through the OPAC is necessary. Students and parents need to have the opportunity to look up library resources from home. Teachers also need to be able to peruse teaching materials without physically having to trek to the library. At the elementary level, many schools utilize Accelerated Reader or other similar program. Including a list of media center books that offer AR quizzes could be a helpful resource that would not have to be updated frequently. A page of links to research resources, book reviews, and the local public library would also be wise additions. Furthermore, posting a list of newly purchased books would be an easy way to promote circulation in the media center.
What a great post! I completely agree with what you saying about understanding your patrons and their needs when setting up and maintaining your web page. As a media specialist, I want to help move students forward into the digital age, but it has to be done at a rate that is comfortable for both them and their parents. I like what you said about the minimum information that should be provided on any media center website at any level. Those things you listed, like OPAC and AR lists, can be beneficial to students, teachers, and parents at your school.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the insight and tips!
Hey Ila Gator:
ReplyDeleteThanks for such an informative posting. I thought your introduction was really well written. I absolutely agree that having a SLMC website is a required part of a media center program.
You make a good point when you remind us when we plan our website, we must make certain that it is well designed and easy to use. I agree that it is also paramount to make certain the website meets the needs of its intended users. You mention using a needs assessment to ascertain the users needs. This is a good idea.
I like your list of minimal resources chief among them being the OPAC. Can't forget that!
I agree that media specialists today need to have a webpage. Many parents keep updated about their child's school by looking at the school website. Having a webpage for the media center that is linked from the school's home page will naturally involve more parents. Also, I would like for my media center to include an OPAC link on a webpage. As a classroom teacher, I often use mentor texts for writing lessons. I will find great ideas of book titles online, but I am never sure if my school has the book until I walk to the media center and search for it. Being able to access this information from my home or classroom would be helpful.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! I really like your description of how the questions have changed over the years, from "should I" to "how should I". Having an informative user-friendly website is a necessity.
ReplyDeleteI also appreciate your statement about the appropriateness of time spent developing and maintaining a website, with regard to the student population of the school. That is a very thoughtful point.
I know I feel that the time I spend working on my webpage is justified when a student or parent comments or responds to something on my webpage. In particular, I LOVE to see students using the links I have shown them on my page! These include Library Search, AR Book Finder, EasyBib, and the Cobb County Public Library.