The What: A new website
I have been thinking about, and worried about, what I will do for my final vision project since the start of LIBE 477. I took this course early in my diploma program because I needed to improve my technology skills. Initially I thought my final vision project would focus on information literacy or on ethics and the use of technology. These are still areas that I want to investigate further, but I have decided that the most pressing task is to build a new website for the Library Learning Commons where I work. Once complete I plan to share this site with the school staff at one of our staff meetings and with the divisional librarians at one of our common learning days. I will also promote it with the students daily. The current website is a wiki. (link to the current website is here. ) The website needs to be updated. Many more sophisticated platforms to construct websites have been developed, such as blogger and WordPress, and I plan to use one of these to build the website for our library.
I see the new website as a way to share with students and staff all that is going on in the library. I have looked at a number of different websites (some great ones as a result of recommendations from colleagues in this class) and I'd like to have a page that highlights:
- activities in the library
- opportunities for staff collaboration
- opportunities for student collaboration
- useful links for student research and project work
- new books
- links to the library Instagram and twitter accounts
- library policies, hours and staff
- student work
The How: Planning, planning, planning
To do:
1. Investigate different website platforms and figure out which one to use. I have spent time exploring Google Docs, Weebly and WordPress.
2. Make a specific plan about what information to use and how to organize it. For this part I'd like to include students. In the article, How Usable Are School Library Websites? A Random Sample from All Fifty States, the authors Chow et al make the point that adults who design website that they think are cool or appealing to students often miss the mark. According to Chow, "A growing body of research suggests that working with youth throughout the life cycle of a website - analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation—is the appropriate way to ensure that youth perspectives and priorities are appropriately included." According to the article, to be most effective school librarians have to engage with students in the design processes and content of the library website. Now I have to find a few (willing) participants to work with me on this project.
Works Cited
Chow, Anthony S. .., et al. “How Usable Are School Library Websites? A Random Sample from All Fifty States.” Journal of Research on Libraries & Young Adults, vol. 7, no. 3, Dec. 2016, pp. 1–28. Accessed March 10, 2019.
Nick Youngson. “Under Construction.” Picserver.org, Creative Commons, www.picserver.org/highway-signs2/a/under-construction.html.
“Woman, Girl, Balloon, Thought Bubble.” Pixabay.com, pixabay.com/illustrations/woman-girl-balloon-thought-bubble-1172718/.
