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Dear Netters, Thank you for the many responses. To recap: I am unable to make my library web page the default web page on my library and lab computers. Consequently, the students (and staff) do not use the library web page as the starting point for research. Many of our resources are under-used or not used at all. I was asking for advice. I received many responses and I will summarize them for you. Some people suggested that I set the page myself. That won't work because the computers are locked and I do not have the "rights" to change the settings. Most of you gave me good arguments for why the library page should be the default page: "The librarian is responsibile for library resources." "Students and staff are delayed when the Internet opens on the school district page. If the classroom computers or teacher computers open there, that is fine, but the purpose of the library web page is to serve as a focal point where everyone can see all the resources that are available and then decide which is the best route to take first (periodical, card catalog, Internet, magazine database, etc.). We all know that, for some assignments, the Internet is not always the best place to go first." "Decisions that affect student learning should be made by instructional experts not techs. There is no sound technological reason for that person to dictate which page your computers open up to." "The librarian determines what the home page for the browsers will be. Our adjoining computer lab has no predetermined hopme page and it creates a real mess when classes go there for research. Research in the library, with our home page (databases), however, is much more productive." "All of my computers open to the library web page when Internet Explorer is launched. This is something I did. This is my library, my computers and my curriculum, by district policy." "I think it is important that whatever we do we try to make it as instructional as possible. People are, by nature, lazy; or to put it more gently, expedient. They want to maximize results with the minimum of effort. Many are learning the hard way that broad based Internet searching is, often times, not really expedient. Our challenge is to devise ways for them to learn this as they work because try as I might they do not always listen to the lessons I attempt to provide. Our gateway page has helped a lot with this. We are beginning to notice more and more patrons using our subscription products and not the Internet because they usually find things more quickly and the reliability of the information is much higher and more consistent." "Our web page is an extension of our collection. It is a part of our library." Many of you suggested that I take my argument to the Principal. I have talked to my Principal but I think that one more try won't hurt. I intend to send the Director of Technology a memo outlining the reasons why I think the library web page should be the default page. I will copy my Principal on the memo. Thanks for all your support. Yvonne Mullins, Dept. Chair, Library Lincoln-Way East High School Frankfort, IL 60462 ymullins@lwhs.will.k12.il.us Yvonne Mullins, Dept. Chair, Library Lincoln-Way East High School Frankfort, IL 60462 ymullins@lwhs.will.k12.il.us NTMail K12 - the Mail Server for Education =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-= All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST, etc.) send email to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST 4) SET LM_NET MAIL * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv. For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/ Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.shtml See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=