Asian American Pacific Islander Month DDSD 2024.pptx
Promoting your school library through social media
1. Communicate, Participate, Advocate Connecting your library to your school community through social media Image: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net http://www. wcl .govt. nz / blogs /teens/ http:// theunquietlibrary . libguides .com/content. php ? pid =165142& sid =1400963
The library at the "centre of the school." Is the school library also at the centre of your school's online presence? Of the students' online life? With an online presence you can be visible and involved with the school community 24/7. Are you a Ubiquitous Librarian? It is all about participation and interaction and through participating you will also be advocating. Wiki for all the links : http:// sociablelibraries . pbworks .com/ Note: Teen blog at Wellington Public Library Video clip/s from Buffy Hamilton ( the unquiet librarian), who has involved her students in eBook and eReader evaluations. http:// theunquietlibrarian . wordpress .com/category/kindle/
A wonderful example of interaction between a student and an author
Jean Kwok replies and also leaves a link to her Facebook fan page – a nice example of potential use of different types of social media – connectivity and how exciting to receive a post from an author!
It is important to invite participation and provoke curiosity . This blog invites students and others to vote for their favourite illustrator – the poll is placed beside the feature on New Zealand illustrators and of course it is also all about promoting literacy and reading . There will also be a display in the library of the illustrators’ books, perhaps an illustrator visit ( Via NZ Book Council) or skype conversations with an illustrator through CORE-Ed Book Talks.
Social media is also an excellent conduit for your own professional development and learning. Here is an example with the facebook page for discussion about eBooks and eReaders. In New Zealand we have excellent online communities through the SLANZA wiki, SLANZA facebook page and the Services to Schools Create Readers and L2 blog and online communities which focus on different areas for discussion.
Recent trends This survey was conducted last year – where do you fit? Share with the group.
Results of a survey carried out by Sally Pewhairangi at Finding Heroes - http://findingheroes.co.nz/ South Island public libraries are leading the way! http://findingheroes.co.nz/2011/06/27/new-zealand-public-libraries-social-media-supporters/
IDEAS : School Library presence on school internet/intranet/LMS (eg Moodle, Ultranet, KnowledgeNET) online catalogue (looking up books at home, online reserves, catalogue links to web-sites) blogs (new books, library happenings) wikis (links with research links for particular topics/groups) chat, skype (homework help, reference, teacher queries and booking library) Twitter - quick updates about new books, new displays, answering queries via twitter Social bookmarking with delicious, Diigo - research links, author pages and blogs Flickr - sharing photos of library events Facebook - creating a library community, could include library info, photos, book-club information and page, book review of the week... Smart phones - Texting - quick reference, queries - Survey monkey - online library surveys Note: Link on this slide is the Library Minute iphone promotion.
Social networking or social media is now an accepted part of the Library 2.0 world – the interactive web is all about communication with your users and empowering them to create and participate in your school library online presence. You can use social networking for a variety of things such as microblogging on Twitter to promote new resources, ideas for discussion, short video clips on YouTube, and promoting literacy and reading e.g. Good Reads There are many tools which you can use to create your school library online presence. You will need to consider exactly what you will use social networking for before starting out – who will be your main audience? Create a social networking policy – this would be in line with any other form of communication policy which the school has and will outline protocols, limits, rationale relating to the use of social networking between the school, students, and the wider school community. School Library Journal article: http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6699104.html Put guidelines on your blog to help those who are posting and to remind students of social networking etiquette. Note that Kerikeri High School blog has guidelines displayed on front page.
Purpose What do you want to say about your school library ? What type of collaborative / interactive space do you want to create - Discussion What you can offer staff / students? o Promoting your collection o Supporting research and Inquiry o Creating a reading community / culture It is important to know your school community Summarise key characteristics of your school community and think about how your school library online presence will reflect this community. Audience : Who are you trying to reach with your presence – students / staff / parents ? What do your students and staff want – survey them to find out Create an outline ! Provides your students and staff with a usable site that integrates with the wider school ICT environment Maintenance – sole charge or team effort – involve your students as much as possible. Functionality - the tool should fit the purpose - target audience: students / staff / parents. Can you include images ? What about a link to your library catalogue ? Can students submit content / comments / reviews ? Usability Can you easily incorporate additional content / pages / functions as needed ? Is there help available ? How does this fit in with other tools being used within the school intranet ? Cloud computing – is your school utilising cloud technology ? Will you be the sole person managing the content and keeping it up-to-date, or will this involve a team?
The overall organisation should allow for future expansion and inclusion of additional pages / concepts Navigation: consistency of headings across all pages, alphabetical order when you have a list / menu Test: can someone who has never used your site before complete specific tasks e.g. use the catalogue to locate a title, find a list of websites to help with homework, discover who the library’s featured author is this month / term ? Consistency: Same headings throughout the site / menus Layout of pages the same Same font and font size Images - Copyright / Privacy / downloading times Fonts – use easy to read fonts – black lettering on light background is easier to read Language – natural and easy to read Consistency in language and terms used School Library website terminology – catalogue vs OPAC, websites vs. internet sites (Odin Jurkowski) Content Tutorials – YouTube clips http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXrkacZK-sE Connecting online to print Podcasts – book reviews Online Tutorials which you can link to ; http://www.eduplace.com/kids/usingweb/index.html http://library.acadiau.ca/tutorials/websearching/ And much more!!
Look at some examples of invisible libraries. Go to the Be seen link on the wiki. Example: http://www. marlboroughboys .school. nz / Note: some libraries may only be accessible through the intranet but is this decreasing visibility? And a highly visible library: http://www. gbh .school. nz / Think about your own library. How visible is it? Would a student or teacher be able to find the library easily online? Discuss with the person next to you. How visible is your library online? Find your school’s internet page and see if it includes a library tab/link to the library. The library needs to be visible. Physical location and signage helps everyone to find your library but how do you ensure high visibility online? Managing and organising information is a key to online access. This is where the library becomes even more important. A school library homepage provides a central point of access to a wide range of digital resources. A school library blog/wiki or facebook page invites interaction with students and the wider school community. How do you begin? What is the purpose of your online presence? Refer to the following reading: http://stephenslighthouse.com/files/MMIS_26.pdf Note: Key readings posted on wiki
Stay online and look at Library homepages links – next page on the wiki. Things to consider: Placement / visibility of library page from school homepage Linkages from homepage to library page and back so there is a clear connection with the school’s website – branding / identification Scotch College – Suzette Boyd’s school library website Ashburton School Library – library page within a school website Muritai Library – a library blog within the school website Kings High School Library – Bridget has created a blog which is linked to from the school’s website and also provides a clear link back to the school website. Library management systems: Web based library management systems can incorporate a website format for your library catalogue homepage Features Create news items Include book images including bookcovers
Look at some excellent examples of school libraries with a clear and dynamic online presence – what do you notice? Choose a favourite – what did you particularly like about this library’s online presence? Blogs Blogs 7 - Things you should know about Blogs – links on Services to Schools website, could also be a handout. http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/developing-your-library/managing-your-library/your-library-online-blogs-and-wikis - originally created so people could share their thoughts and ideas in chronological entries - allow comments from readers – the interaction and participation is key. A blog also becomes a fantastic record of library achievements and events – use as a presentation to your BOT, as evidence based practice. Can incorporate other functions such as links to other websites, widgets Allows the display of images and graphics Golden Bay High School Library blog http:// gblibrary . blogspot .com/ Comprehensive blog includes: o Book reviews and comments from students o Recommended titles for the library to buy o Homework help links o Recent purchases on Library Thing o Flickr photos o IL links o Links to Golden Bay’s library wiki 2010 http:// goldenbayhslibrary . wikispaces .com/ o Links also to Wide Reading wiki http:// nceawidereading . wikispaces .com/ Russell Street School Library blog http:// rsslibrary . edublogs .org/ “ We love reading” blog. Good example with vibrant homepage which incorporates library news and reading promotions. Bookapedia battles on its own blog http:// bookapediabattles . weebly .com/ Fendalton School Library blog http:// foslibrary . blogspot .com/ Includes: o Reviews o Images of the new school library o Visits from authors / illustrators o Dewey decimal guide o Homework help o Parents page o Shelfari books and reviews Kerikeri High School Library Blog Book trailers Reviews LibraryThing
Note: Poll Daddy Flickr Browse Inside widget allows students to read an extract or an entire book online e.g. Coraline Take a closer look at some examples and note down which features you would like to incorporate into your school library online presence that will best serve your purpose. Looking at the examples will also give you some idea of how the different tools work and look when they are used within a school library context.
Note poll on right hand side of front page – evidence based practice/ gathering information woven into webpage. Think about using your website to gather evidence – polls e.g. “ would you read an e-book?” http://thewhslibrary.edublogs.org/ These are quick and informal but may well grab students’ attention and can be used for collection development, as evidence to support budget requests and to promote engagement and discussion. Can also include a competition element to encourage class participation. Think about ways you could use polls, surveys, quick questions on your library blog and note down any examples you see which you would like to use.
Wikis – 7 Things you should know about Wikis – this document is also located on our Services to Schools website: Wikis have more of a website appearance with a side bar menu which can include links to other pages on the wiki. Multiple writers / editors Incorporate images, videos, widgets etc Outram School - wiki http:// allencentre . wikispaces .com/Home+page Wiki with lots of links to various activities which have been carried out in the school. Includes: o Homework Help page with lots of external links o Read It! page with various booklists for different reading levels o Dewey for Kids links to activities (some of the activity links are dead) o Link to “Boolify” site which teaches Boolean searching Golden Bay High School Sandbox http://gbhs-sandbox.wetpaint.com/ Year 7-10 reading lists Links to useful sites e.g. Famous speeches, Famous people Author websites Books to film / Poems to film
Twitter - Microblogging – see examples on the wiki page Useful for promoting your collection / events = KidderLit – the first lines of children’s books – embed a widget in your blog or wiki. Springston School Library – incorporates KidderLit Consider using Twitter with staff rather than students to pass on useful links or to promote new library resources, professional development – e.g. EPIC workshop for teachers. Promote your own collection – quotes from new books Pass on great links with selected retweets from education, library and social media networks.
Point out the different tabs/pages created for each account. SLANZA and many Public Libraries have a facebook page. Look at examples on the wiki. Canaan High School – Info/YouTube / Events / Video – YouTube clips talking about various library related things e.g. Summer Reading programme, Bibliography lesson
A variety of videos which promote the library and its services. How to borrow items How to print How to use databases How to have your say Look at links on the wiki These can be made with your students – a great way to involve students and provide 24/7 information with FAQ’s.
Who uses a social bookmarking tool already ? How can this be used within a school library online presence ? Springston School Library blog example Sharing bookmarks Preselect useful sites Highlight parts of documents Screenshots of specific pages Information on Social bookmarking http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Social+Bookmarks - includes bookmarking sites, tutorials – very comprehensive.
Emphasis is on the concept of the connected library, managing updates, sharing the workload and lots of ideas for promoting the library’s online presence and services. Reference: The Connected Library Suzette Boyd. Chapter 6, pp. 73-74. As a user – content and organisation ( being able to navigate through the site), and the ability to contribute, participate and interact are pivotal. As a librarian – design and promotion and facilitating interaction are also very important. Imagine that you have now launched your school library homepage, blog or a wiki. How will you ensure that it is current, dynamic, interactive? How will you promote this wonderful resource? Currency - Use link checker or similar. Discussion, planning and questions.
Join the online community and take part in the Boost your blog challenge set up by Maxine Ramsay our very talented and knowledgeable colleague in Dunedin. Useful links http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/sites/schools.natlib.govt.nz/files/making-your-own-blog-using-blogger.pdf http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/sites/schools.natlib.govt.nz/files/making-your-own-wikispaces-wiki.pdf
