Library Media Center Questionnaire

Please help me get feedback by answering the first questionnaire I've ever created with Google Docs!

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Social Networking in the Library Media Center

Using social networking tools such as Twitter, Nings, Delicious, and LibraryThing make the life of the library media specialist easier and enhances student learning. Twitter allows library media specialists to communicate with other library media specialists, experts, and teachers for valuable resources and advice. Nings also allow library media specialists to network with others by offering specific social networks that suit the same professional interests and goals. These two social networking sites allow us to develop our knowledge and skills so we can then pass this information onto our students.

Delicious is a unique tool because not only is it a social network, but it also bookmarks websites. No longer do students, teachers, or library media specialists have to worry about using a network of computers and not being able to save websites to your favorites. Here, websites are saved, tagged, and shared so that it's easier for the user and others to find useful websites.

LibraryThing allows a user to catalog their own collection and share it online. LibraryThing can be used to advertise new materials in a library media center collection to parents, students, and teachers. Like the other social networking tools, LibraryThing makes the library media center more efficient.

Using Blogs in the Media Center

Blogs have an important place in school library media centers. Blogs can be incorporated into collaborative lessons with teachers in order to engage students and give them an active and authentic learning experience. Students can blog in order to present information, share ideas with the class, offer feedback to their peers, and reflect on assignments. Typing on a computer allows students to express their ideas through a medium they enjoy. Blogs encourage the involvement of parents by allowing students to share what they've learned through a product they can be proud of. Blogs can act as a communication tool between teachers, parents, students, and library media specialists. As one student claimed, blogs "no longer give you an excuse to miss homework assignments if you're absent." In an age where everyone has access to a wealth of information and everyone is connected, it makes sense that one of society's most valuable institutions- the school- is staying current and connected.

I am a shy person and one aspect of blogging that I would have appreciated growing up is the ability for everyone to participate. Blogging allows students to really develop a well thought out response where everyone has a voice. Students know their comments, opinions, and work are being acknowledged by parents, teachers, library media specialists, and peers. They become invested in their work and feel a sense of accomplishment. Unlike a traditional assignment, blogs are not just finished and then thrown out. The student has the ability to share their work with a worldwide audience, motivating students to always do their best.