The school library I visited also had a lacking web presence. For mine, it seemed like something you could only get to through the city school board website—or by knowing exactly what you want and Googling it (which was when I found an old blog the librarian had put together years ago). I wonder if that has something to do with the priorities of an elementary school library—because they serve such a defined and particular audience, maybe they don’t need to be as public-facing as a library with a bigger web presence? I do think it’s a little bit strange, though: if Rubin & Rubin are right and school libraries are a “third place” between the classroom and home—and there are a lot of kids these days who come into elementary school already technologically very literate—maybe school libraries should try to make themselves into a digital “third place”?
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for sharing about Tye River Elementary School Library. I’m definitely noticing overall that school libraries’ websites are not as detailed as the other types of libraries’ websites. I think that this is in large part to the fact that many libraries, including TRES Library, are only staffed by the school librarian. This librarian is responsible for checking teachers’ and students’ materials out, shelving returned materials (unless they can recruit volunteers), teaching lessons, managing student behavior, weeding and adding to the collection, trouble shooting technology, incorporating stem type activities, running after school clubs or activities, helping students and staff find materials they are interested in, providing readers’ advisory services, and maintaining the library website (among many other things). That is certainly a lot of different responsibilities, and I could certainly see how maintaining the website might drop low on the priority list. It is definitely something to think about for those of us who are considering becoming school librarians. Thanks!
Thanks for the incite on what school librarians do. I am rethinking the school librarians’ job. That seems like a lot of work in the short amount of time in a day to tackle. They also don’t get paid enough to do everything they do for schools.
School libraries need to make their websites easy to navigate for the students, staff, and public. I believe that all school library websites should be more like academic or public libraries, or a mixture of the two. This would provide students, staff, and the public more access to the resources that the library provides. I like the mission of the Tres Library. It has aspects that every library should have. I haven’t heard of the Destiny Catalog. I wonder how resources are cataloged with this system.
That was my first time hearing of Destiny cataloging. It intrigues me I may have to visit this library when school opens back up and find out more about the library. Nelson County has a great school system.
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It doesn’t seem like this library had much information. I wonder if it a lot different when school is in session. I am glad the students seem welcome.
What age groups does this school library service? I love that their mission is to promote the love of literature.
Elementary pre-k threw 5th grade.
The school library I visited also had a lacking web presence. For mine, it seemed like something you could only get to through the city school board website—or by knowing exactly what you want and Googling it (which was when I found an old blog the librarian had put together years ago). I wonder if that has something to do with the priorities of an elementary school library—because they serve such a defined and particular audience, maybe they don’t need to be as public-facing as a library with a bigger web presence? I do think it’s a little bit strange, though: if Rubin & Rubin are right and school libraries are a “third place” between the classroom and home—and there are a lot of kids these days who come into elementary school already technologically very literate—maybe school libraries should try to make themselves into a digital “third place”?
If they are open to the community. How does the community access the library if they do not have a student that goes there?
Hi Stephanie, Thanks for sharing about Tye River Elementary School Library. I’m definitely noticing overall that school libraries’ websites are not as detailed as the other types of libraries’ websites. I think that this is in large part to the fact that many libraries, including TRES Library, are only staffed by the school librarian. This librarian is responsible for checking teachers’ and students’ materials out, shelving returned materials (unless they can recruit volunteers), teaching lessons, managing student behavior, weeding and adding to the collection, trouble shooting technology, incorporating stem type activities, running after school clubs or activities, helping students and staff find materials they are interested in, providing readers’ advisory services, and maintaining the library website (among many other things). That is certainly a lot of different responsibilities, and I could certainly see how maintaining the website might drop low on the priority list. It is definitely something to think about for those of us who are considering becoming school librarians. Thanks!
Thanks for the incite on what school librarians do. I am rethinking the school librarians’ job. That seems like a lot of work in the short amount of time in a day to tackle. They also don’t get paid enough to do everything they do for schools.
School libraries need to make their websites easy to navigate for the students, staff, and public. I believe that all school library websites should be more like academic or public libraries, or a mixture of the two. This would provide students, staff, and the public more access to the resources that the library provides. I like the mission of the Tres Library. It has aspects that every library should have. I haven’t heard of the Destiny Catalog. I wonder how resources are cataloged with this system.
That was my first time hearing of Destiny cataloging. It intrigues me I may have to visit this library when school opens back up and find out more about the library. Nelson County has a great school system.