Why Have a Media Center Web Page?
For many teachers, parents, and students, the media center webpage will be an introduction to the media center. A web page is a great way to keep in touch with your audience. The web page serves as an up to date, information bank of what the media center can offer. It’s a great way to keep parents informed, pull kids in to the media center (particularly after school), and collaborate with teachers.
What could be on the web page?
• Prominent link to and from the school website.
• Create fun on your website: jokes of the day, club info
• Blogs on current topics in the news that relate to classroom learning
• Links to news sites and kids websites (yahooligans, backyard jungle, Plastic Fork Diaries, PBS Kids)
• Online book club
• GPS related Pathfinders
• Links to reference sites (IPL Kids’ Space, Ref Desk, Kid Info)
• Suggested reading list
• Search the library collection
• Links to other libraries with who have a interlibrary loan relationship
• Staff info, library hours, and contact information
What can you do to help the teachers? You want to be sure that your website is used and promoted by people who really need it: The Teachers! By offering GPS related pathfinders and websites this can be a one-stop-shop for teachers to collaborate with the media specialist. With just a few clicks, the teachers will know what books and websites the media specialist will suggest. Also, keep a list of the technologies the media center owns.
What about the parents? By having the webpage linked to and from the main school website parents will be much more likely to use it. Keep parents up to date on any media center programs that are going on (book fair, banned book week, teen read week, etc.) Offer a link for parents to email the media specialist to volunteer. The web page can be a place for parents to see how plugged in their media specialist is with the classroom.
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Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI've also found that using the media webpage to link the parents to the Accelerated Reading program is a huge help in keeping the parents informed about the program the students use. We also have links for research skills as well as authors' websites that the students enjoy reading.
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteI agree....your opening statement of "For many teachers, parents, and students, the media center webpage will be an introduction to the media center" This is the exact application I plan on using my media center web page for. I will not only post schedules and important media center news, but also provide a link to a media center tour like our PowerPoint exercise or even post a VLOG (video log)on the Web-page showing a guided tour. A link for Accelerated Reader is a great app. as well. I think this would be a great way to communicate info. to parents about the program.
Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI really think the media center webpage is the best way to keep parents informed. I check my daughter's school at least once a week and it's nice to know what's going on before you walk in the door. Thanks for the comment!
Andrea