February 22, 2014
What
makes a media center web page one that patrons will access frequently and find
exactly what they need? There are many factors
to consider when creating a media center web page, but the most important thing
to keep in mind would be your target audience. Elementary, middle school, and
high school web pages should all have a different look and feel to meet the
needs and interest of the specific audience. The content will also be different
among grade levels, but there will be some media center basics that should be
consistently found on all web pages.
In
my explorations of media center web pages, the first think I notice is how
organized the page looks and if it feels overwhelming to the eye. I enjoy web
pages that are organized into neat spaces, possibly evenly spaced columns or
tables. I also like the fonts and colors to be consistent on the page. When
there are a variety of different fonts used or a plethora of different colors;
I feel distracted and focus on those factors instead of the content being
presented. I also like when the information provided is brief, possibly using
bullet points or a list and stays away from lengthy paragraphs. The Milton
Middle School media center web page does a nice job of keeping the site clean
and well-structured: http://www.milton.k12.wi.us/schools/mms/website/library/MMS_LMC/Welcome.html
If
I was going to create my own media center web page, I would try to keep the
content streamlined into general basic sections and then subdivide within those
main sections. I really like the way Highland Middle School has organized their
web page. Visit this link to check it out: http://www.d70schools.org/~hlc/hlc/Highland_Virtual_Learning_Center.html.
The site is broken down into the following components: Reading Resources,
Research Resources, and About the Learning Center. I think this is a great
place to begin and then expand within those three main sections. The Reading Resource
section might include items such as: library catalog, reading incentive
programs, book fairs & book clubs, award book information, and possible
book reviews. The Research Resource section might include: databases, pathfinders,
works cited guides, Lib Guides, and copyright info. Finally, the About the
Learning Center section would include the basics of how the media center
operates. Patrons would be able to find out contact information for the media
specialists, hours of operation, the mission statement, policies and
procedures, acceptable use policy, and volunteer info. The only major component
that I would add to this site would be to have a separate section for teachers
to locate resources, share, and collaborate.
One
more factor that is vital when constructing a media center web page is to keep
students with disabilities in mind. What can you do to make using the web page
more accessible for this group of students? Offering textual transcripts for
students with hearing difficulties or using fonts and colors that would
increase the readability for the visually impaired are two possibilities. It
may also be a good idea to think about the parents during construction of a web
page. We have to remember that the audience is mostly going to be students, but
the student population includes the teachers of these students and the parents
as well. The media center web page needs to provide information and assist the
patrons in a fluid and reliable manner.
Jennifer, one thing which stood out for me in your post was the key factor when constructing a media center web page is keeping students with disabilities in mind, coloring and spacing means a great deal to most. Sound can even play a role in some SWD students when viewing a web page. The font is also necessary for students as well as parents with vision problems. I cannot stand to look at a schools web page and it is bland and there is not too much to view. You have to search for key words and links are placed on the next page. Sometimes thinking outside the box can help a SLMS create an exciting and student friendly web page. Being creative and keeping in mind everyone has to navigate the site is hard. The ideal web page should look like this: http://future.dce.schoolinsites.com/?PageName='Library' to me. I love looking on this particular web page and discovering what’s going on in and around the school. It is simple and to the point. Who wants to chase the site for information when everything is on one page and directly in front of you?
ReplyDeleteJennifer,
ReplyDeleteI think you make some really good point about what makes a website good and effective. In a lot of ways, website design principles are very similar to page design principles used by magazines and newspapers. My undergraduate degree was in print journalism, so I tend to notice design on websites more than other people might. I think you make an excellent point about the need for the page to be organized in a neat and clear manner. I’ve been on websites that are cluttered with too much information and with too many videos and graphics popping up and it really turns me off. Website designers shouldn’t add things to their pages just to fill up space. Everything should be there for a reason and the designer should take great consideration into where items should be placed. I think you also make a good point about the need for fonts and colors to be consistent. I think a mistake a lot of rookie designers make is that they feel like they need to make a page as sexy as possible by putting in a bunch of different pretty but hard to read font types in colors that are hard to read. In my print journalism classes, they made a big deal about being careful of using colors in fonts because they can be hard to read. I think you also made a good point about keeping information included on the page concise and clear. If a student goes to the website and it is just cluttered with information that is grouped all together, the student may feel overwhelmed and give up without even looking at the resources listed on the page. I know I’ve encountered websites like that and given them a pass rather than try to weed through all the information presented.