Here’s one for the school librarians out there. Do you use Moodle or Blackboard? Wouldn’t it be fabulous to integrate your library catalog into that resource for easy access by students?
The Distant Librarian: An Article on integrating library information into Course Management Systems
Get on board! Podcast!
“MySpace.com, the social networking Internet site that is widely popular with young people but has alarmed some parents and law enforcement officials concerned about sexual predators, announced today that it is hiring a former federal prosecutor to be its first chief security officer.”
Worrying about kids is well and good… but couldn’t these pedophiles be doing this at the local park instead of online? Do we have “Chief Security Officers” for the local playground that do nothing but watch for pedophiles?
It’s something to think about.
You may wonder why I’m on about this… it’s because kids are going to use these tools whether you want them to or not. I say, TALK to your kids about internet safety, get involved in what they’re doing and let them know that they are not working in a vacuum; that anyone, anywhere can see what they post. For that matter, make yourself a MySpace account and make your kid your friend. But don’t, DON’T assume that the companies providing the service will do an effective job of keeping baddies away from your kids. It is your job to teach your kids effective strategies for dealing with baddies wherever they are, be that in the park or online.
Librarians: A class on internet ethics and responsible internet use for teens can certainly not hurt. Pair it with pizza and prizes of iTunes music cards and you’re set. Have the kids share their MySpace or Friendster pages… suggest that perhaps if they are not comfortable sharing what they’re posting with their peers over a projector in the public space of the library, that maybe what they’re posting isn’t really appropriate to be posted on the internet. Illustrate to them that the internet is no different from any public space, and that if they wouldn’t do it in the library (read, in public) then it’s probably not appropriate for posting on the internet either.
Let’s get this straight, I don’t want you to censor your kids… I want them to learn to censor themselves.
Here’s a list of the top 10 reasons you should ask a librarian to be your technology partner.
An interesting read, for sure. 
Education World ® Technology Center: Doug Johnson: The Librarian: Your Technology Partner
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