Thursday, December 17, 2009

Two Best Readings



We had the opportunity to read many good chapters this semester.  Two of the chapters stand out as being very influential for incorporating technology in the field of Library Science.  First, I enjoyed reading Chapter 6 in Technology in the School Library by Odin Jurkowski (2006).  This chapter, entitled School Library Websites, discusses how media specialists can incorporate a website as a means of information for their students.  One of the main advantages is how quickly librarians can give updates on resources and materials.  Students and teachers can access information about the library from any location with the Internet, not just within the four walls of the library.


Jurkowski (2006) suggests that when beginning a website, be sure to have goals in mind.  It is recommended to include links to specific teachers, the library catalog, databases, local sites of interest, and your contact information.  It is also important to choose the software used to create and update the website.  It is critical that the librarian chooses what can be easily maintained and updated.  Considerations must be made if it will be hosted on the district’s website or an outside host.  Further, the website should have a design that is aesthetically pleasing, combining fonts, colors, and graphics.  It should be easy for patrons to navigate and locate information including younger children. 


I maintain a website for my second grade class and plan to continue this if I ever work in a school library position.  This chapter is a wealth of information for how to get started and what to include on a school library website.
The second chapter I read that I felt was valuable was Chapter 7, Online Social Networking by Brian S. Mathews located in the book, Library 2.0 and Beyond: Innovative Technologies and Tomorrow’s User, edited by Nancy Courtney (2007).  Online social networking has simply exploded in the past few years and it is important to include these technologies with students.  They are already familiar with many social networks such as blogs, MySpace, and Facebook.  Introducing the social networks into a library’s curriculum will appeal to young patrons.  “Social networking websites enable libraries to enter the social sphere of these younger patrons and to present a modern image,” (Mathews, 2007).  The library can be highlighted through photos, blogs, and online tours.  I think that it is so important to take advantage of social networks to increase the library’s exposure and enhance access to information. 

Jurkowski, O.L. (2006). Technology and the school library: A 


     comprehensive guide for media specialists and other 


     educators. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Mathews, B. S. (2007). Online social networking. In N. Courtney (Ed.),  
   
     Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow’s 


     user (pp. 75-89). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

1 comment:

  1. Such high quality readings on technology. Reading can be challenge for students with visual impairments. Recently, I stumbled upon with this wearable artificial device for visual disability. It reads text from almost any surface including books, emails, street signs and more. Also, it identifies people's faces, objects and colors and relays it to the wearer in real time!

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