School Library Sites

Here are a few school library sites we can look at for our second comp task.

http://www.asla.org.au/
http://www.slav.schools.net.au/slav.html
These two are associations for school libraries, rather than libraries in and of themselves, but they're a good place to start.


http://thewhslibrary.edublogs.org/
This is a blog for an American High school that may be worth checking out.

http://www.bighouselibrary.com/
A real library site!

http://lmc.abington.k12.pa.us/common/servlet/presenthomeform.do?l2m=Home&tm=Home&l2m=Home
Another! Another!

http://libguides.brisbanegrammar.com/libraryhome
It may be in Brisbane, but it's a real school library site.

http://www.parkes-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/library
NSW! A little closer to home.

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Emma Joy James: Pros and Cons of FREE Software and Sites: I've already posted a link from another blog in regard to this but I'm going to recycle the information for my competency task. Here...

Weekly Update

It's been a quiet week around here, not a lot has changed. My schoolwork is plodding along one day at a time, and home life continues to be much the same. Breaking Bad's new season started on the weekend, so I'm very excited, and GTA V is just a month away, which will be the best thing to happen in human history.

I've got my interview with the RCH Library tomorrow, and while I'm certain it'll go well, I'm a little nervous, because it's such a big deal.

Website creation

When it comes to creating web pages, there are dozens of services and software packages available from almost as many organisations. Here's a few that you might consider when making a web page for your library, or even yourself!

http://www.microsoft.com/web/webmatrix/
Webmatrix is the software suite designed by Microsoft to compete with Adobe's Dreamweaver. It's free, and it can optimise your sites for mobile users, which is a powerful tool these days.

http://www.adobe.com/au/products/dreamweaver.html
Dreamweaver is a very popular program offered by Adobe, and it's available in their well-known and respected Creative Suite. I wouldn't recommend purchasing CS in Australia, however, as it costs significantly more here than the rest of the world for no good reason. In fact, it's cheaper to fly to America and buy 3 copies of Creative Suite, then fly back to Australia than it is to buy them locally.

http://www.bluegriffon.org/
Blue Griffon is an open source alternative to these two, meaning not only that it's free, but the source code is available, so more technically advanced users can make tweaks to the software themselves.

http://www.onextrapixel.com/2013/06/18/10-best-alternatives-to-adobe-dreamweaver/
If the other software packages don't quite fit your needs, you might find something more appropriate here.

Blogspot and others

Libraries and other organisations might consider using free blogging tools such as Blogspot or Wordpress because they're free, simple to use, and can be updated from anywhere in the world, and by anyone with the login details, which is great for people who like to work from different computers, or from home. They're also web-based, which means that there's no software to beg your IT department to install on your work computer.

Of course, there are downsides. While there are dozens of themes available on Blogspot, the basic layout of any pages created on them look pretty much the same, and the format offered by Blogspot is more suited to personal blogs because of its 'scrolling style', and while it would be possible, it would be colossally time consuming to create a searchable OPAC.

Reblogged from Margie: Pros and cons of free software and sites

A couple of weeks ago we discussed in class the pros and cons of free software for web design. Here's the list we came up with as a group.

Pro:

It's FREE!!!!!!!
It's simple
It's user friendly
It's well known
Gives you a good platform to share your message - creates a ready made community
I don't have to worry about the technical stuff
I trust the security is good

Con:

You can get hacked if it's not a reputable supplier
You have to follow their rules
It's not always clear about what they do with your information
It's not always clear what they do with your images etc
I have to look at advertising
The software is often limited and I have to pay more to get the good stuff
I'm often constrained by what I can change in the software
Less choices about what I can do
Poor customer service
They could close down at any time
It could go out of fashion and not be updated
It's often hard to get your information and content off the sites to transfer them somewhere else

These lists aren't exclusive, and as I think of more things to add, I'll edit this post.

Making a library webpage

Here are some basic resources for anyone looking to make a library website and looking for some tips and tricks to make things a little easier.

http://www.thesitewizard.com/gettingstarted/startwebsite.shtml
This site is a little bit dated, especially in it's visual design, but it still has a lot of great information and further links.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Website
This site is more fresh than the last one, and wikihow is a well respected resource.

http://www.slideshare.net/vacekrae/library-mobile-web-design-tips-tricks-and-resources
This site offers information for making library websites and pages specifically for mobile devices, which are becoming more and more prevalent.

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/w-mertz.html
For non-visual learners, this site from IBM has lots of great tips.

http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/969
A wall of text devoted to developing web pages for school libraries.

http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/accessibility.php
And finally, some information relating to accessibility for disabled users.

Useful library services

One question that comes up in our classes quite often is "What are some good services a library can provide on their website?"

Here's a (by no means exhaustive) list!

OPAC access
A map of the area surrounding the library with parking information
Paying off fines and reserving items online
An FAQ section
Ask a Librarian
A recommended reading list, possibly separated by category
Staff photos
A list of services provided in person at the library
Contact information

There are countless other options, but this basic list could help anyone making a website for their library.

My week

Hey guys,

It's been a pretty quiet week for me, not a whole lot going on! I had a quick phone interview with Cathy from RCH Library about my work placement, and that went quite well. I had dinner with my Mum on Sunday, which is a rare treat as she lives in Bligh Bligh, and saw Epic, which was a lot of fun. I also got an RPL for Acquisitions 2 based on my previous work experience, which is a big boon for me because now I can sleep in on Tuesdays.