Thanks, everyone :) What a great group! There seems to be a solution for
everyone. The schedule can be online and only the librarian add or
delete, or any teacher can. Depends on how you set it up. The main thing
is that online all teachers have access to the schedule at any time of
the day or night. As one person said, this can encourage teachers to
sign up and use the library. Thanks again :)
Wilma
Wilma Flagg, Librarian
Reeds Spring High School
Reeds Spring, MO
wflagg@wolves.k12.mo.us
Library Schedule on the online
November 2004
IDEAS
======================================================================
I use a free web site. http://localendar.com It's pretty simple to
use and you can put information in for public or private. We've
attached it to our main web page so that staff and students may access
it. You can see ours at http://www.localendar.com/public/nlecrone
No-one can make changes in the calendar except the originator. You set
the login and password. I'm the one keeping the calendar online for
our library, so I've set the login and password.
==========================================================
Spreadsheet ideas: areas to schedule:
" Need librarian's assistance
" Library-print materials--tables
" Library-checkout only
" Library computers
" Library computer lab
" Library classroom
" Different color for each area
" Hours down left side and days across the top
" All twelve months included
" Laptop carts
============================================================
Mine's not exactly online, but I use the calendar in Outlook. I can set
it up when a teacher requests library time and then send him an invite.
When he accepts the invitation, it'll be on his calendar too. I can set
up repeating ones too, for those that come on a regular basis. I don't
know how exactly it would work on a web page. I know you can put the
calendar there, but I'm not sure if just anyone would be able to make
changes. There are specific instructions in the help section of Outlook
-- "Learn how to save a calendar as a Web page". What we do here, is
have a school calendar in a public folder on the local server. Only
certain people have permission to change things (and you decide who has
permission), but everyone can access it. That may work for you a bit
better than a web page. (You access it through outlook - have a second
calendar named Library Calendar for example.)
==============================================================
I just started (week before last) keeping my library schedule
using FirstClass, our district e-mail program. I'm still trying to work
out some of the bugs, but have been pleased so far. The main thing
others in the district who already used it said was to make sure I'm the
only one who can add items to the schedule. All can see it, but they
can't sign up by themselves. I do end up printing out each day's
schedule in the morning so that I have a hard copy to refer to and to
put in my plan book for documentation. I may eventually go to teacher
sign up, but most of my colleagues suggested I do all the entries for at
least a while. The problem with the calendar on FirstClass is that two
(or more) people can schedule the same time slot if they don't look
carefully and follow all the necessary steps.
We tried having our teachers use the calendar to schedule their
own times in the computer lab, but on more than one occasion two
teachers arrived at the same time or overlapped. I've since learned a
lot more about using the calendar, so if I do go to teacher scheduling,
I'll probably do a short "class".
==============================================================
I schedule on line and have found the following "pros"
1. Teachers can look to see what periods are free or taken from their
rooms and make decisions as to when they want to come to the Media
center in real time. (Other words, they see what I see concerning
available periods)
2. It allows teachers to schedule with the click of the mouse without
leaving their rooms
3. It cuts down on the "talk time" I have with teachers who used to come
in and then found that the periods they wanted are already taken but
stay forever to talk (which I really don't have time for) (I realized
that does not sound real friendly, but it's the truth)
How I do it:
I have a server with NT 4 that has server software
I put together a Virtual Media Center on the server which includes all
the months like a regular calendar.
On the monthly calendar I have a link that brings up an email which the
teacher writes in what period they want and what they are planning for
the students. Once I receive the email, I schedule the requested time
and do a return email to the teacher saying "scheduled as requested" and
any other comments necessary. Very clean, very efficient, very fast.
Hope this helps. You can try to view my web page structure at:
http://205.122.6.22 however don't be surprised if you can't access it,
most people outside the local community have not.
============================================================
I have created an EXCEL document for teachers to sign up for computer
labs (2) and for the media center. This folder is located on a drive
our technologist named "share". We locate this share drive through "My
Computer" just like we locate all other drives. I named a folder on
this drive "Atkinson County High School" and within this folder I have
other folders: 1 for labs and 1 for media center. The only problem
that I have had with this is that one time someone deleted a page of
signups. Teachers will have to be told that the document has to be
saved after they sign up, because changes have been made. I have found
this is much handier for teachers because they can access from their
classrooms.
Date week of 11-15-04 J.D. Bryant Lab
Block 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Monday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Pittman Morrell Morrell
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Pittman Morrell Morrell
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Pittman Morrell Morrell
Tuesday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Morrell Morrell
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Porter Morrell Morrell
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Porter Morrell Morrell
Wednesday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
collins collins Morrell Morrell
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
collins collins Morrell Morrell
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
collins collins Morrell Morrell
Thursday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Morrell
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Morrell
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Morrell
Friday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Morrell collins
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Porter Morrell Porter collins
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Porter Morrell Porter collins
Date 11/15/2004 Media Center
Block 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Monday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Kirk
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Kirk
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Kirk
Tuesday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
Kirk
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
Kirk
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Kirk
Wednesday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Thursday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
Friday 8:00-8:30 9:45-10:15 11:20-11:50 1:20-1:50
8:30-9:00 10:15-10:45 11:50-12:30 1:50-2:20
9:00-9:30 10:45-11:15 12:30-1:15 2:20-3:00
============================================================
We use a networked calendar that teachers can sign up for the library
and view all other scheduled or open slots. It is through MS Outlook.
It is basically the same calendar feature as is on Outlook, but it is in
something called "Public Folders" and I named it "Library Calendar". Our
tech guy set it up. It's wonderful as teachers don't have to call me or
e-mail me and ask me to schedule them (which meant I had to check the
schedule, etc.). Now each teacher can see the schedule for the month
and see where there are open slots and sign themselves up. Great!!!
Maybe your tech person and set it up for you.
============================================================
We have an unbelievably awesome online schedule program that we LOVE. A
former exchange student designed it and we've modified it tremendously.
It is flexible, easy to use, and our teachers adore it. None of us
could go back to the old days. This allows my home ec teach who plans
at 4 a.m. to check the schedule, sign up and bring in his class.
Otherwise he would not use the facility nearly as often.
Take a look at it at: http://198.189.32.55/
The left hand side gives you several options. This program compiles my
monthly stats based on facility used, teacher who signs up, etc. One
logs in easily from any internet computer. I can't say enough great
things about this program. It allows me to limit each teacher to 25
computers for the 2 available spots in the library, allow only 2 classes
in the library, 1 in the lab and 1 in other facilities. Amazing!
==============================================================
I'm online, but only I can add to schedule. So I get a chance to talk
with teacher and hopefully help setup the visit parameters.
(http://pac.egreen.wednet.edu/library/schedule04-05.htm)
Setup is easy (there is a calendar tool in Dreamweaver) and flexible.
Pluses are teachers can check for available time before calling or
emailing. And it is just as quick to add a teacher to schedule as was
the old folder/paper calendar. Also (though I haven't done it yet) you
could link to whatever materials needed for presentation (powerpoint,
notes, etc).
=============================================================
Look at my website - my wonderful assistant did this under SignUps.
http://staff.edmonds.wednet.edu/users/endlichr/default.htm
============================================================
I have considered it briefly - but ultimately I always decide in favor
of the paper and pen method. It is not because of technology issues.
It is because I really like the interaction that goes on between our
staff and teachers when they come in to schedule their own classes. It
means that we always know what the teachers are doing - when they use
the library for research AND when they use the computer lab for
research. I feel that there are many research classes I would have
"lost" to the computer lab if we were not in charge of scheduling it.
It also gives us a chance to suggest ways that we can help - databases
that we can show the kids etc. We take the time to write down how many
students there are in the class. Then - when someone else comes looking
for space at the same time, we can make an educated judgment whether
Teacher A's class and Teacher B's class will work out well together in
the library or the lab or both - or if it would be better to wait and
have only one class in.
Basically I just think that I will loose this connection if we go to an
online schedule.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home