There are two selection tools that I like the best. I like School Library Journal for how all around helpful it really is. I like this journal because it has a nice mix of professional articles and interesting topics as well as great reviews for new and upcoming books. I really loved the starred section in the back of the journal for easy reference and I love the in depth reviews and synopsis' of the books. It seems like it would be very handy to have with you at any given point and time. I also like the catalog Capstone. It's big and bulky but there are so many titles in it. My two favorite aspects of this catalog is that it was broken down by dewey system and that it had the barcodes in the catalog so that if you had an account all set up it was easy to make your "wish" list. I also really like the pictures of all the books in this catalog. It made it really appealing and I took more interest in the books.
My web page is coming along much better this week. I finally have a design layed out and I feel like I actually know what I'm doing and can manuver my way around it pretty quickly. I feel like I have too much that I want to put on it but I just don't know how to go about doing it. I'm working on dwindling down my big ideas and focusing on getting all the necessities first. The most difficult part of it for me right now is figuring out databases. That's something I'm not super familiar with so I'm hoping I can find a few more to put on.
The three-year plan is coming along a little bit slower than the website. I've got all the information I need but and just trying to figure out how to go about putting it together. I'm sure once I really get into it I'll have many questions then.
I think the best way to promote a library is to get as involved in the school as possible. The librarian I am "working" with actually takes field trips with various classes in the school that fit in with curriculum standards. I think that's a great way for the librarian and the classroom teacher to work together and it shows kids that the library isn't just a library, but that there are more real world concepts out there that fit into the library scence. I also think that starting library specific activities are important in promoting the library to the school. Setting something up such as an art and author fair would be a great way to get children excited to use the resources provided through the library.
This week's class has really just stressed the importance of never giving up especially in my professional life. There are times that I have no idea what to do but with all the databases and tools that are out there it just shows to keep searching and the answers will show up in due time. This week I gained a much better understanding of what full processing is and why it's important. I also never realized what a great database Badgerlink was. I've used it before but never really went in depth to it. It was actually really fun to play around with it and get to know the inner workings of it.
Glad to hear that your webpage and 3-year plan are moving along. Be sure to let me know if you have any questions or run into any problems. Also, remember, your webpage will be very fluid and dynamic. It's never really done. But, as you said, you want to get basic things into it first, and then just keep adding and tweaking it.
ReplyDeleteLibrary promotion is an every day, ongoing process, too. And, it is so important. Things as simple as giving out bookmarks for a special occasion or visiting classrooms to do Book Talks can do so much.
Glad to hear that you know more about Badgerlink now. Keep exploring it. It is amazing!!!