In the last two postings, I have looked at numerous Canadian public library websites to see what kinds of services they are offering to support the research needs of teachers. I have now selected some of them to explore more in depth, as I noticed unique services that were not available everywhere. I have been thinking about a possible website I would create if I were responsible for supporting the research needs of teachers in a public library. I would definitely borrow from some of the sites I featured in my last posting. However, I have been thinking of resources I did not see frequently on these sites; ones I think should definitely be included so that a teacher can rely on their local public library as the go-to resource for their research needs. A few that came to mind would include:
Links to sites about internet safety and media awareness: These would be valuable tools for teachers to have easy access directly from the library website. They could use it for their own purposes, or to refer students or parents to. The Halifax Public Library has a good selection of links on these subjects: http://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca/kids/net_safety.html
Copyright information: The national site for the Department of Justice Canada documents on the Canadian copyright act, which are useful for determining appropriate use of resources in the classroom without infringing on copyright laws: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/C-42/index.html?noCookie
Tips: Numerous public library websites contain a handout on tips for teachers to refer to when giving assignments to students that will involve library research. There are some excellent suggestions on the following Canadian public library websites:
http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/spe_lea_trl_teachers.jsp
http://www.gvpl.ca/kids_and_teens/parents_and_teachers/Tips_for_Teachers.php
http://www.vpl.ca/branches/LibrarySquare/kids/pdf/TipsFT05.pdf
Literacy links: I would include links to general sites and resources related to literacy issues. The Greater Victoria Public Library Parents and Teachers page is an excellent example: http://www.gvpl.ca/kids_and_teens/parents_and_teachers/Literacy_Links.php
Local school board information: I would include links to local school board information such as curriculum details, etc. The Burnaby Public Library does a good job at organizing such links and information: http://www.bpl.bc.ca/gab/parentcurriculum.htm
Recommended websites: I would include links to recommended websites as relevant to particular grade levels. This is a handy resource for any busy teachers, so they can refer students and parents to appropriate online resources. The Prince George Public Library has a well designed, user-friendly website with links to recommended websites by approximate level.
And finally, this Canadian, commercial site, Time Savers for Teachers, has some free, fun, and interactive resources (worksheets, forms, certificates) for teachers. It would be a great addition to a teachers section on a public library website; what teacher doesn’t want to save some precious time?
http://www.timesaversforteachers.com/
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