Reflection on the shift towards the “digital library collection"

I definitely see this as an important role for the Teacher-librarian to introduce and promote the “digital library collection”; including the areas of safety on the internet, copyright, notetaking from a screen rather than copy and paste, finding kidfriendly search engines and sites, comfort in using the technology (as noted in lesson 2 Libe465 and also in learning commons documents (e.g.Loertscher, David. The School Library Learning Commons. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6610496.html) . I have encouraged students and teachers to use the library catalogue, and other library purchased e-resources (e.g. culturegrams) and have introduced students to internet safety, copyright and kidfriendly search engines. 

I struggle with the worldbook online encyclopedias that is available since the content is “US” centric and has limited entries for topics students research such as a “noteworthy Canadian”.  I also find that the young version of World book does not provide articles at the lexile levels of a primary student – contrary to what the program suggests it will do.  I tend to encourage primary teachers to access websites designed for kids that I and the teacher preview prior to teaching.  Many kidfriendly sites are suggested to me by other teachers directly or through our online School District discussion site.  “You gotta love networking!”