I was initially drawn to this website because of its design elements. I liked the charcoal and gray backgrounds, and the brightly colored font that made it easy for me to focus on what was written on the page. I liked that the main page includes pictures of students using the library in different capacities. The pictures show students doing homework, playing chess, checking out books, reading, and working in groups. This is an element that I would like to include also as this is a great way to advertise a small piece of what the library has to offer its students. The links on the left are clearly labeled and I did not have any difficulty navigating through the site. The left side links on the page provide viewers with valuable information including, but not limited to, the school district's online catalog (this is something that is very difficult to find through my school's website), upcoming events in the library, and ways that students can take part and become more involved with their library (book clubs). As a viewer this website appeared to be very welcoming, very active, and very student involved.
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The cool design of this website was very appealing to me. There is not a lot of text on the main page, causing me to draw my attention to the links displayed. The link to the online catalog is clearly visible at the top center of the page for students to use the inter-library loan system. At the top of the page are information links that allow visitors to view the library calendar, explore research & project tools, reading lists, and cool sites for students to visit. The logo and link for Accelerated Reader are posted just below the library catalog link, leading me to conclude that AR is a big part of the library (kudos!!!). I have always been an advocate for AR and it seems to be losing momentum at my current school more and more each year. A link to AR and active involvement in the program is something I would like to incorporate in the future.My favorite aspect of this website was the Tweets from famous authors and publishing companies. This is a great way to connect students and books/authors through technology. Though I am not familiar with Twitter specifically, I would like to include some type of social media aspect in my website because it is both relevant and relatable to 21st century learners.
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Lowe Elementary School's library website was my favorite among all three. It was the first one that I saw with an audio tool on the main page and I loved the message from the school librarian. I would like to include a Voki message welcoming students to the library as well, or even use it as a means to make weekly announcements on the library home page. At the top are two stock images that are cute and colorful, which is both appropriate and appealing to students at the elementary level. My attention was immediately drawn to the large, kid type font that advertised where students can log their summer reading minutes through Scholastic. Towards the middle there was a slideshow that included pictures of the library and activities that have taken place there. I thought this could be useful for students new to the school. On the left side towards the bottom are links for catalogs for the iPhone, iPad, and smart phone, which is a great tech-savvy way to distribute what is available for check out.
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The first item that caught my eye on the Hempstead's library is the panoramic slideshow view of the library media center at the top. I have seen picture slide shows on the Weebly websites, but this was the first site to showcase an interactive panoramic view. This is a great interactive tool that I would like to feature on my website. The design of Hempstead's website was also a plus for me. It was also the first website I visited that wasn't overloaded with images, text, or links, making it easy for me to find basic information like hours of operation and student resources. Under the "About Our Library" tab there is an interactive suggestion box where visitors to the site can type in suggestions for the library - another tool I would like to feature.
Kailua's website has a great heading at the top: "Ask, think, READ everyday, create, share." It is clear from visiting this site that the library is a large part of the learning community at this school. The librarian writes a blog and posts the link on the homepage for viewers to see. In reading his blog, the librarian includes many neat elements, including what he has been reading, a cool tool for the family, and a 21st century learning tip. I love the idea of writing a blog and adding content like this for students, parents, and staff to read. Another plus on this website are the links to the class websites at the top. This further connects the library to both the school community and it is definitely a tool I would include as well.
The website for this elementary school is absolutely adorable. It is whimsical and playfully designed - perfect for an elementary school! What I liked most about this library site, aside from the cute design, are the thumbnail images for each link. Adding that small visual for each link is a great strategy for students who are beginning or low readers. Many students can recognize the icons and images from familiar websites and these thumbnail images associated with each link can allow those students to access the same information as skilled readers. This is a great idea and resourceful tool that I would like to use. I also liked that under the heading for the links is a reminder that the usernames and passwords are available in the library for student log in.
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