Top Ten Lessons from Playing with Virtual School Libraries

10. Virtual School Libraries meet students where they are at with technology.
9. With Virtual School Libraries, students have access to reliable sources of information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
8. Parents can view and access the same information as their children.
7. All teachers can access the same, valuable online tools. Virtual School Libraries provide another opportunity and vehicle for teacher collaboration.

6. As a classroom teacher, and digital immigrant, I am not sure this tool will be change my practice immediately. This week has provided me with a new vantage point on libraries, and new implications for teaching my students in the classroom.
5. The format of virtual school libraries varies widely, and sites that are visually appealing will be most motivating and inspiring for teachers and learners.
4. Rhonda Wills’ site for McLurg Elementary School is an excellent example of the continued relevance of a physical library space and collection alongside a virtual presence online.
3. I am becoming increasingly aware of the sheer mass of information available on the Internet.
2. If students are to navigate this information (which they are independently), we need to provide them with appropriate databases and search engines to access online information.
1. As one who visits libraries, but does not frequently reflect on their function or evolution, I was excited and inspired by my discoveries this week.