Online Resource of the Month

December 2007 - February 2008

Each month, the Library features one of its online premium resources, paid for by the San Diego Public Library, and available at the locations indicated.

San Diego SchoolRooms

Available at all San Diego Public Library locations and online from anywhere with a valid Library Card. Access to San Diego SchoolRooms is from links on the Library's Web site. Please Note: You must enter your Library Card and PIN (Personal Information Number) to use this service remotely (outside of our libraries). Some schools and libraries in San Diego Unified School District will also have access links and portal entryways for San Diego SchoolRooms.

What is San Diego SchoolRooms?
San Diego SchoolRooms is a Web-based learning portal and service designed to help students explore, discover and learn. It also includes resources for parents, teachers, and librarians. SchoolRooms integrates thousands of pages of multimedia content, "Best of the Web" links, Library Favorites, powerful search capabilities, and other resources - all organized around a K-12 curriculum.

San Diego SchoolRooms, with funding provided by the California State Library, is now available to all residents of San Diego - by using a San Diego Public Library Card. Students, parents, librarians, and teachers, now have access to thousands of online educational resources organized around their school curriculum. The Library is working closely with its partner, the San Diego Unified School District, to promote the usage of SchoolRooms in the school systems, at home, in libraries, or anywhere you may be online.

For more information about the provider and partners, please see these links: SirsiDynix, SchoolRooms, San Diego Public Library, San Diego Unified School District, and the California State Library.

What Hours are San Diego SchoolRooms Available?
The service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Whenever you need it, SchoolRooms is there.

What are these "Rooms" in SchoolRooms?
A Room is designed as a space where a variety of traditional, digital, and online resources are contextually arranged to satisfy an information need. In the case of SchoolRooms, Web content, links, activities, help sites, are part of this mixture.

How are the Rooms selected? [Quoted from vendor, SirsiDynix]
"SirsiDynix defines quality content as content that clearly demonstrates its authority, purpose, objectivity, context, accuracy, currency and is user-centered. All quality content is selected with a particular audience in mind and hand-selected by a group of certified subject experts based upon the selection criteria listed below."

• Author or sponsorship is clearly stated and signs of authority are evident, such as copyright, logos, and ways for users to make comments or suggestions. Preference is given to sites maintained by recognized authorities in the subject area, such as sites with URL suffixes .gov (government), .edu (educational / academic), and .org (respected organization) or respected corporate sites.
• The purpose of the site is clear; for instance, does the site sell, persuade, entertain, or educate? Advertising does not overshadow the content and is appropriate for the intended audience. Minimal pop-up advertising may be present.
• Site and content are easy to navigate and there are clear tools for navigation, searching, and descriptions. The site is accessible and adaptable for a variety of learners and is appealing, well-organized, and intuitive. If there are interactive features, they are used appropriately and plug-ins are clearly defined.
• For every topic, the content selected is either free of bias or balanced with other content to balance the bias. Content is free of inappropriate content and mature themes.
• The site offers contextual and interactive content. Users are engaged and the site meets the majority of information needs on the topic that a user may have. Content is relevant to the user's needs and interests and is current, meeting the projected demand of users.
• The site provides accurate, verifiable, current, and up-to-date content.

What does San Diego SchoolRooms look like?
Figure 1: San Diego SchoolRooms - Sample Screenshot

In the screenshot above of San Diego SchoolRooms, you will see the main portal home page, showing the navigation bar, Rooms on the left menu, and quick links and location links on the right. The middle column contains "featured" content. The "How Do I…" section provides quick and direct access to the links students, teachers, and parents might need when using SchoolRooms or the Library's resources.

How does San Diego SchoolRooms work?
It's easy. At the main page, you can browse around and use the main links. You can login with your Library Card number and PIN to use the different Rooms and search power within the portal.

• To find great content, select your grade level - Elementary, Middle School, or High School.
• Each grade level has different content, rooms, features, and color schemes.
• Below is a sample screenshot of the Elementary Room main page. You can see how the Rooms on the left-hand menu are open and available to browse or use. The Rooms are expandable from the menu, to see the detailed content within each Room.

Figure 2: San Diego SchoolRooms - Elementary Grade Level - Sample Screenshot

In the above screenshot, the Rooms are open in Elementary - ready to explore; just select the small white triangles to open the menu further, or to close them. The feature area is always in the middle, and there's a navigation bar in the middle of each portal section - so you can always go home, use our Ask a Librarian 24/7 Reference Service, print items or search results, or get help.

How Do I Use the Search Features?

Figure 3: San Diego SchoolRooms - Search Power, Drop-Down Menu - Sample Screenshot

You have some incredible multiple resource search power with San Diego SchoolRooms. The screenshot here shows you the drop-down menu inside the portal. All of the search power of our new Integrated Library System (ILS) is available to you via SchoolRooms. You can search:

• All of the Library Catalog, or specific materials like CDs or DVS/VHS materials.
• Best of the Web - subject information experts picks on the best Web sites on a subject
• Articles & Databases - pick some search terms, and you are searching quality, premium electronic databases the Library provides to card holders.
• Everything - All of the Above

All of the results appear in your search column area (middle), arranged in groups so you can point and click your way to answers, information, or things you'd just like to explore. Look for the Explore the Results column after you've conducted a search. Also, see these links in the portal after searching: Advanced Catalog Search, Browse Search, Call Number Browse, and Browse Reserves. They'll appear on the left-side menus.

Figure 4: San Diego SchoolRooms - Search Results' Screen (Cleopatra) - Sample Screenshot

Once you find items in the Library Catalog, you can do the usual things you might want - since you are already recognized by the system when you are logged in. You can reserve materials right from within San Diego SchoolRooms and you can see what's available in the Library stacks, or checked out.

There are many powerful options for exact searches in the Advanced Catalog Search, give it a try to see how you can use it for your needs. And don't miss the RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feeds link for any of your searches. Keep up to date via RSS on new items and resources that fall within your search query.

What is Best of the Web?
San Diego SchoolRooms features thousands of links to Web sites all over the world, and the professionals behind SchoolRooms have visited every single one of them. SchoolRooms links only to best of the best, making the web safer to surf, enjoy and learn from.

When and Why Should I use San Diego SchoolRooms?
You can use the portal anytime, day or night. You might need help with your homework or school projects. You might want to check out some cool sites and information on something that interests you - like music, dancing, dating or sports. The links all lead to good, verified content, The information is current with new updates, often monthly.

What Other Features does San Diego SchoolRooms offer?
There are some great links within San Diego SchoolRooms to make the portal a one-stop spot to visit for students, teachers, and librarians. On the right-hand side of the home page, you'll see links to our other key services - Live Homework Help (tutors live online), and also our AskNow 24/7 virtual information service. You can use either of these to get help with school work or information and life issues or concerns.

Do You Need More Help with Homework?

• The San Diego Public Library's Homework Center site has many additional resources to help you with homework. Check it out, and mark it a "Favorite" bookmark.
• Research Databases: Our collections include subscription online resources, such as magazine and newspaper archives, encyclopedias, dictionaries, photos, maps, biographies, science guides, historical documents, literature overviews, and much more. All you need for access is your Library card and PIN.
• Live Homework Help - Tutoring assistance K-12, College Prep. Available at all San Diego Public Library locations and online from anywhere with a valid Library Card. Access to Live Homework Help is from links on the Library's Web site. Please Note: You must enter your Library Card and PIN to use this service remotely (outside of our libraries).
• AskNow 24/7 Information Service - Online chat information help and research help from librarians - both from the San Diego Public Library and around the U.S.