Social Media... everywhere you want to be

Most people are aware by now what social networks are. You’d be hard-pressed to find many people who don’t have some sort of social network account, be it Facebook, LinkedIn, Flickr, or any of the other various options available. Even my grandmothers are on Facebook, one of them very actively! You’d be even harder pressed to find teens and preteens who don’t have some kind of social media presence. Many of today’s students have been online since they were just tots. They see social media as just a regular part of interacting with their friends the same way I used to see passing notes in between classes as a good communication method during the school day. Because social networking is so ingrained in today’s students, I think social networks certainly have a place in the school setting. I think using them in classroom settings and in the media center is a good way to engage students and get them interested in their education. It’s a way of meeting them on their level or speaking their language. I think schools could use social media websites to their advantage in a lot of ways. 

In the media center alone, social media websites are a great, free way to advertise the services and materials available to students and teachers. As Mathews (2007, p. 80) notes, social media sites can help give the library a more modern image and make it more appealing to younger patrons. The media center may use its social media presence to advertise upcoming events, such as book fairs and author visits. It may also be used to advertise new books added to the collection. Mathews (2007, p. 81) notes social media sites are also a good place for the library to post pictures and videos of such events, as well as tours of the library. Social media websites can also be a good way for librarians to gauge how patrons view the library and its services. These websites allow users to comment on posts and give their opinions. This could be a good way for a media specialist to see what’s working and what’s not. A librarian might also use social media to conduct polls to get similar feedback. The media specialist might also use social media to seek out patron opinions on what books they’d like to see added to the collection. 

In addition to traditional social media websites, like Facebook, there are also sites that have other functions. One example is the social bookmarking website Diigo. It allows users to bookmark websites and access the bookmarks anywhere that has an internet connection. A media specialist might use such a tool to create bibliographies for students and teachers.

As Fiehn (2008) notes, more and more people are coming up with social networking software that can be used with library OPACs. She notes Follett’s Destiny catalog has a social networking aspect that allows patrons to rate materials and give reviews. Adding a social media aspect to the OPAC could make it much more appealing to students and make them feel invested in their library.

But social media websites aren’t just a good way for the media specialist to connect with patrons. It’s also a good way for the media specialist to connect with other people in his or her own profession. Librarians may use social media to connect with librarians all over the world and ask questions and get ideas from other in the field. 

While social media websites do have a number of perks for schools and media specialists, it’s important to note, many schools do not allow students to use the websites in school, and they have good reasons for making such a decision. As Mathews (2007, p. 80) notes, there are several threats associated with social media sites, including online predators, cyber-bullying, hackers, and addiction. All of these concerns are very real and can put students at risk. I think just as we educate children not to talk to strangers, or enter their cars, or leave their wallets unattended, we should also be teaching them how to navigate the internet and social media websites safely. Most of these kids are already using these sites at home, so they are already facing these dangers. Educators and parents must be the ones to guide students on how to protect themselves in the real world and online.

References:

Fiehn, B. (2008). Social networking and your library OPAC! Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 15(5), 27-29. Retrieved from http://www.mmischools.com/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=59618

Mathews, B.S. (2007). Online social networking.  In N. Courtney (Ed.), Library 2.0 and beyond. (pp. 75-89). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

Tips For Creating A Great Web Page for Your Media Center

     Advertising your media center is essential in helping to promote the wonderful resources, programs, books and materials you have for students and teacher to use.  A great way to advertise your media center is to create a webpage that will draw students, teachers and faculty to you. School libraries have different aims and purposes for developing their websites.  These varied purposes reflect the numerous individuals using the site (students, teachers, parents, library staff, parents of prospective students, and people outside the school) ( Jurkowski 2010).

Here are some great tips that will help you build an exciting webpage that will allow you to share valuable information within your school.  

Layout 

     I know it is our job to share knowledge, however The layout and overall design of your webpage should be clean and free of clutter and overwhelming information. To much information in one place can be a turnoff and cause students to become confused.  Instead of trying to place everything on one page, use links to take students to other useful pages of information.
     Colors can pose an additional problem as you want to ensure that the pages are readable, as opposed to simply good looking (Jurkowski, 2010). Use colors and fonts that are inviting and are able to be viewed by all students and add eye catching images by including a virtual tour to display your media center.
     Americans with Disabilities Act issues must also be kept in mind...be sure to provide alternate text for images so that students with vision problems can read what the image is, don't use colors that will be difficult for someone who's colorblind to see, and if you use any sound clips be sure to include a textual transcript for students with hearing problems (Jurkowski, 2010).

 Content

     When including content on your webpage be sure to include information and links to various groups such a teachers, faculty and students.  For instance, you may want to include a link for your accelerated reading program, reading list for students or links to subject/ class specific resources for teachers.  You can also include a teacher or student run blog, highlighting the happening in your media center.  Some suggestions of website features are:

• Mission 
• Polices
• Calendar/ schedule of events
• Link to OPAC
• Hours open/ closed
• Contact information for media center and staff
• Search Engines
• Reference  /Research guides
• Reading list

Make your webpage inviting and fun by adding fun facts, book reviews, podcast and blogs.  Don't forget to include a link to your local public library!

Attracting Visitors

Advertising your website by any means necessary is key to successfully attract the attention that you need and want.  According to the article Building Websites that Work for Your Media Center by David Warlick, Media Specialist should make sure that the media center's web site is prominently featured and linked from the school site.  Other tips to attract visitors:

• Convince teacher to link to the media center web site from their classroom Web pages.  
• Feature your site URL on all handouts, policy manuals and any other documents that come from the library media center.
• Include the URL of the site in a voice mail or answering machine suggesting that callers might find the answers to their question online 
• Create fun search games linked to the curriculum that encourages students to solve and visit the media center for a prize
• Post student and teacher created blogs and podcast on your website
• Post current topics / subjects related to the curriculum with collaboration from teachers.

I believe that having a strong well used webpage is important and can increase the amount of physical and virtual traffic to your media center, which will assist with helping to share the invaluable knowledge that we are so eager to give.  

References

Jurkowski, O. (2010). Technology and the school library: A comprehensive guide for media specialist                                                                                                                                                                          and other educators (revised ed.). Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.

Warlick, D. (2005). Building web sites that work for your media center. Knowledge Quest , 33(3), 13-16. Retrieved from http://aasl.metapress.com/content/gk552k173l82j1l0/

Media Center Web Pages

Does your Web site help you do your job?  David Warlick asked this question in his article about building Web sites that work for media centers, and I began to ponder on the question as I began my research on media center Web pages.  One of a media specialist’s jobs is to get students reading, and creating a Web page that helps to do that helps us accomplish this goal.  The key here is communication!  We want to present information that adds value to the service we provide. We must be an advocate for our own programs and sell them to our stakeholders.

I found it eye-opening to examine the different Web sites provided for this assignment, especially since they are all geared toward different levels. It was helpful for me to see the different levels; I’ve only had experience with elementary school sites.  Most had the same basic information that I feel should be included on every media center’s Web site.  These should include staff names and contact information, hours, policies and procedures, an OPAC link, current events, and links to online resources. Another feature that I feel is a must on a media center’s Web page is information about copyright.  This is for both the teachers and the students. 

I found some websites more appealing and useful than others. Media center Web sites should be well designed, informative and current.  In fact, I came across some links on some sites that did not work.  Other sites had outdated information.  Keeping up a media center Web page is time-consuming; however, if it is going to help fulfill your goals, it must stay current. You want your patrons to find the page useful and informative in order to have them return later. One must make sure your Web page meets the needs of your patrons.  As Jurkowski (2010) explains, “A library Web page for a third grader will be much different than for a high school student.”  With that thought in mind, one should build a Web site that is both inviting and user-friendly for the students that will be served.

As media specialists, we want our media center program valued, and we should take the opportunity to show how it enhances the overall instructional program of the school to help increase student achievement.  By including a mission statement and even a link to the school’s mission statement, we help others see the value of our job.

As I browsed the different Web sties, I’ve made notes for future reference of things I like (and don’t like) for my future Web page.  

WIKIS

Wikis are interactive websites that allow people to collaborate and share information on the internet.  The way it works is that someone in a group would set up a wiki by either using special software or going to a free wiki website such as wikispaces.com or pbwiki.com to name a couple.  It depends on the purpose of the wiki, whether the group would want to pay for software or not.  Some schools might want additional options that can only be found through special software that would need to be purchased.

The person that sets up the wiki begins by opening up an account and setting it up.  They would initially post information that the group will read and share, edit, add to or delete according to their own rules or ideas.  The wiki would have a purpose. For example, I made a wiki for my family reunion coming up in March. Our parents are no longer alive, so my seven siblings and I meet in a different city every year (we live in different cities across the country), so we have to plan our reunions as well as we can. My family normally doesn’t communicate very well, so I am hoping this will help us this year.  I went to wikispaces.com and opened up a free account.  I named this wiki “Byers’ Family Reunion.”  Then I started by writing an introduction about why we were using a wiki – to help us plan and co-ordinate our reunion. After that I listed categories and added my own content to which I am hoping everyone will get with it and contribute.  Then I sent everyone instructions on how to access it and use the wiki.  So far, only my techy older sister has added to its content.  I am optimistic though.  They can do it!                                                                                                                                     

My categories are:

·         When is everyone arriving and departing?  Does anyone need a ride from the airport?

·         Activity ideas, sightseeing etc.

·         What equipment are people bringing such as tennis racquets etc.  

·         Games that people are bringing so that we don’t have duplicates

·         For our cookout night, what foods and beverages are people bringing?

·         Any other information that a family member wants to add.

 

There are several advantages of using a wiki. The content on a wiki can be accessed anywhere as long as there is an internet connection.  Content can be searchable when information is added so it can be a useful tool to use with students and teachers.  One example of this was explained in Library 2.0, in the chapter The Wonderful World of Wikis by Chad F. Boninger.  The media center can use a wiki for a research guide that can be updated often to reflect current information and people can use the search option to find what they are looking for.  Another advantage to using a wiki is that the content can be updated as often as someone wants to update it, so content can be very current.  Another advantage to using a wiki is that there doesn’t need to be a lot of special knowledge or skills involved to using and maintaining one.  It is very user friendly.

Along with advantages, there are some disadvantages.  Since content can be edited and deleted, there is a danger that information could be lost, incorrect or inappropriate.  If using wikis with children, the teacher should monitor the use and content on an ongoing basis.

 

            There are a few things to consider when using a wiki.  Make sure that there is a purpose for it. Then look for examples of other wikis to see how they are used and to get ideas. There are many examples of how teachers and media specialists are using wikis.  Wikiindex.com is one place to start looking.  When using a wiki with students in a classroom, there needs to be some guidelines and rules for use.  Students need to be taught how to use this form of communication responsibly. If used well, wikis can be a good way for students to use higher level thinking skills and enjoy a new way to work together and contribute in their classrooms!

References

Boeninger, C. F. (2007). The wonderful world of wikis: Applications for libraries. Courtney, N. (Ed.), Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow’s user. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.

What the wiki?

To be honest, I’ve only ever used a wiki for collaboration once. It was in a class for my Master’s program. I know it’s the politically incorrect thing to say, especially in today’s technologically dependent world, but I absolutely hated it. My teammates and I were putting together a pathfinder as an assignment. The wiki had several pages that included lists of various web resources a teacher or student might access if they were looking for information on a specific topic. The topic we chose was world myths, fables and the like. The biggest problem we encountered with the wiki is that one of its biggest benefits was also its biggest drawback. Let me explain. Wikis are supposed to be great because they are essentially webpages that can be accessed and edited by anyone who has permissions to do so. It’s a great idea in theory because it means that people who are working on a project, like we were, don’t have to be in the same room to make changes to the project. The problem with our wiki in particular was timing. If two people were on the wiki at the same time making changes, it threw the whole thing out of whack. Saved information vanished without a trace and formatting seemed to have a mind of its own. We had decided everything would be in Times New Roman font with details being 12 point and headers being 14 point. Anytime someone added something to the wiki, the fonts and spacing of items posted by someone else on the page would change. I lost count of how many times I had to re-format our text. By the end of the project, we had given up trying to make the wiki uniform in formatting, which bugged the heck out of me considering my undergrad was in print journalism. 

Despite the headaches I had in that one experience, I do not plan to write wikis off. I still think they are valuable tools with a lot of options for use in education and the library media center. Wikis can serve as a great way to get students more involved with the media center. A media specialist could use a wiki to set up a place where students can discuss and review books they’ve read and movies they’ve seen. Students could use the wiki to make recommendations to their peers and to find books they may be interested in. Wikis are a good, free way to promote the media center as well. The media specialist could easily create a wiki to serve as the library’s website. There are many advantages to this. For one, it can be edited by the media specialist and anyone he or she gives permissions to. Secondly, wikis don’t really require any technical website design knowledge. Therefore, you don’t have to know or even understand coding and HTML in order to create a wiki site. 

Another neat feature of the wiki is that users can see what recent changes have been made and when they were made. Also, it’s usually pretty easy to revert back to earlier versions if you need to. Wikis can include many types of media, such as images, sound, and video, which would make the site more attractive to its audience. Doing so will help enhance the wiki and elevate it from internet storage cabinet of internet links and ideas to a living, breathing website. Adding capabilities for visitors to comment, make suggestions or add their own two cents on things can also make the wiki a more collaborative tool.

In my research of wikis, I found there is also another good use for them that has little to do with student usage. As one author points out, wikis can also serve as great tools for internal communications. (Boeninger, 2007, p. 26) The author notes wikis have several advantages “over e-mail lists, blogs, network drives.” (Boeninger, 2007, p. 27) The biggest perk is that wikis cab be accessed by any computer with an internet connection. The author adds that added content is immediately searchable on a wiki and can be found by searching keyword, as opposed to with blogs where results are usually listed in reverse chronological order.

Creating wikis for use in the media center, and also for use by classes for specific units is a great way to promote collaboration. It’s also an easy and inexpensive way to communicate ideas with a wide audience. 

However, I think it’s important to note, there’s a difference between creating your own wiki and using a wiki found online for information. As a journalist and future media specialist, I think I must mention that wikis do not necessarily make for good research sources. Wikipedia is an excellent example. It’s great because it’s an online encyclopedia that’s free, easily accessible, and constantly being updated by people, often time experts in a particular field. The down side is that too often, it includes bad or wrong information. As a journalist, I’ve seen many times before that someone will update a celebrity’s Wikipedia page to say the celebrity has died, even though it’s not true. Those who are not familiar with how Wikipedia functions will see the information and believe it to be true, passing it on through Twitter and Facebook. Suddenly, some news outlets that haven’t done their research are reporting it. And don’t they look silly when it turns out that the person was never dead to begin with? For this reason, at the new organization I work for, we are specifically told not to consult Wikipedia when looking for information to write stories. The problem with using Wikipedia, and potentially other wikis, as sources is that you can never be certain the information is correct. Even if the wiki belongs to a highly respected educational institution, you would still want to be cautious about taking what’s said on the page as the whole truth. It really depends on who authored the material, where their information came from, and who has permissions to edit material on the wiki. You would want to weigh the references listed and verify everything written on the page. It is because of these credibility issues that I would advise students, or anyone, not to go straight to Wikipedia for information. It may be a good starting place for getting an idea, but it should never be used as an actual source. 

Here are a few examples of neat wikis I stumbled upon while doing research on the topic:

Here’s an example of how someone is using a wiki for a book club.

http://alisonpendergast.wikispaces.com/home

Here’s an example I found of a media center wiki that has a ton of resources that readers might find interesting.

http://bookleads.wikispaces.com/

Reference:

Boeninger, C. F. (2007). The wonderful world of wikis: Applications for libraries. In N. Courtney (Ed.), Library 2.0 and beyond. (pp. 25-33). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.