Facebook
Engaging online library

How to create an amazing online library presence at your school

The world has gone online and libraries must join the trend or risk being left behind. Building a strong online library presence creates buzz around your school library and a stronger patron-base – so let’s draw your students to it!

Create your library’s visual identity:

You might not be trained in marketing, but just for fun, ask yourself: Who are your borrowers? How old are they? What do they care about? What do they want to see/read?

For example, if you believe your library is a sanctuary for those who don’t fit in, you might decide to create the equivalent of a cozy online reading nook. You might theme your online platform with yellows, creamy whites and soft blues, and fill homepage with gentle images, inclusive quotes and a diverse range of recommended reads.

Create meaningful posts – do your research:

When creating new content for your library homepage, make sure it serves a purpose. Content dumping for no reason is never a good idea. If you need a place to start, draw on the Accessit Web App reporting tools to create analytics on what people are searching for in your library; the most popular searches, failed searches, the most borrowed items, and so on. Once you know how people are already using your library, you can start catering to their interests appropriately, or filling in the gaps to inspire your non-readers.

User Experience – modern, attractive and intuitive:

Consider the experience of reading the homepage. What information do students need to see? What information is currently most prominent? When considering the experience for the user, remember these simple tips:

1. Contrast the text and background: It’s good to consider the experience of someone with sight impairment or colour-blindness. Legibility is key, so don’t put light text on a light background or red text on a blue background.

2. Bigger news items are more prominent: It goes without saying that you can determine the hierarchy of news items by changing their size and position on a page.

3. Use complementary colour contrast: If blue appears in your Web App logo and banner, highlight other areas using complementary colours. Blues go nicely with oranges, yellows with purple, and so on.

4. Stick to a format: If you have chosen a particular font, stick to that font throughout your homepage. Using a number of different fonts might seem like a quirky idea, but in reality they appear disorderly.

Regular updates:

To ensure your online library remains a place people want to return to, make it a goal to keep your content up-to-date and changing regularly. Here are a couple of time-saving tricks to keep content fresh:

1. Reorder your news items. You don’t have to spend ages finding and creating new content – if you have quality content hidden at the bottom of your Web App, bring it up for air.

2. Post Twitter widgets. Linking to reputable Twitter feeds on your Web App is another way of displaying engaging content without additional work, as they literally update themselves.

Get seasonal with your library system homepage:

Accessit allows you to create multiple Web App homepages out of sight, and then pin them when you need to. This means you can work away on a special Halloween homepage for example, and put it in place just for the month of October.

A library system with a schoolwide reach:

Make sure that you encourage everyone in the school to use the Web App. It’s a valuable space to celebrate school news and an easy place for teacher/librarian collaboration to begin. Schools can even link their online library directly to the school website as a way for the wider community to keep up with what is going on in your school.

Believe in your online library platform. If you back the library by promoting a strong online library presence, others will learn to back you too.

Accessit Tip: Don’t forget to make the most of ALeC, our Accessit Library eLearning Centre. Follow the Web App Interface Guide to learn how to zhoosh up your Web App and ensure you are doing everything you can to draw attention to your library.

Starting The Year in Your Library

Starting The Year in Your Library

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Avondale School, NSW

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

Case Study – Riva Primary, WA

World Book Day 2023

World Book Day 2023

A Free Visit From Our Author In Residence

A Free Visit From Our Author In Residence

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Including Digital Resources in Your Library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Cheney School – Jill Fenton

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

Let’s Talk Libraries: Bishop Gilpin C of E Primary School – Sally Le Marquand

SLA Conference 2022 Recap – Jen Winn

SLA Conference 2022 Recap – Jen Winn

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Creating a School-wide Reading Culture

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Thomas Hardye School – Jenny Stevens

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Good Help (OLGH) – Sarah Olushonde

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: St Anthony’s High School – Jill Adler

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Somerhill – Susan Smith

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Beacon Academy – Natasha Allen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Southland Girls’ High School

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: Littlehampton Primary – Barb O’Connor

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Hill School (US) – Nancy Body, Catherine Clowes

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Our Lady of Lourdes – Danielle Leathart

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Richmond & Prahran High School – Karys McEwen

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Let’s Talk Libraries: Croxley Danes School – Victoria Rovira

Librarians of Accessit – Alex McGowan – Functional Support

Librarians of Accessit – Alex McGowan – Functional Support

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

The Lovett School – Storybook Pumpkin Contest

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: World Book Day (UK) – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Web App of the Week: Waitangi Day – Free download

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Supporting Reluctant Readers

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: The Lovett School – Robyn Martin

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Let’s Talk Libraries: Seatoun School – Wendy Bamber

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Competition Recap

Raising the profile of your school library

Raising the profile of your school library

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Christian College Geelong (VIC) – Gerradine Barry

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Paula Na Nagara – St Mark’s School 

Let’s Talk Libraries: Lloyd Street Primary School (VIC)

Let’s Talk Libraries: Diocese of Toowoomba (QLD) – Liz Newman

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Let’s Talk Libraries: Peace Lutheran College (QLD) – Tanya Mills

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Web App of the Week: Halloween – Free download

Librarians of Accessit – Carole Gardiner – Sales Representative

Librarians of Accessit – Carole Gardiner – Sales Representative

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

The Axe-cessit Halloween Showcase – Free resource download

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Accessit Library Talks – Episode 1 – Kevin Arscott of Coleg Gwent

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Dixons Cottingley Academy

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Web App of the Week: Sydenham School

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

Librarians of Accessit – Sarah Pavey

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

An introduction to using Social Media in your library

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Web App of the Week: Denefield School

Getting students involved in your school library

Getting students involved in your school library

Librarians of Accessit – Jen – Product Representative

Librarians of Accessit – Jen – Product Representative

Accessit Team Talk – Blair – Marketing

Accessit Team Talk – Blair – Marketing

Accessit Team Talk – Shane – Accessit Library Support

Accessit Team Talk – Shane – Accessit Library Support

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Environment Day & World Oceans Day – Free Download

Accessit Team Talk – David – Migrations

Accessit Team Talk – David – Migrations

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Ursuline Academy of Dallas

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Woodland Middle School Academy

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Anzac Day – Free download

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Web App of the Week – Sarah Bonnell School

Accessit Team Talk – Christine – Accessit Library Support

Accessit Team Talk – Christine – Accessit Library Support

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Claire Bavister – Woodland Middle School Academy 

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Librarian Talk – Mary McGavin – Fulham Prep School

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Web App of the Week: Happy Holidays – Free download

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

Librarian Talk – Poonampal Kaur – Sarah Bonnell School

How to promote your school library catalogue

How to promote your school library catalogue

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Jason Saikaly – Barker College

How to approach collection development in school libraries

How to approach collection development in school libraries

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Web App of the Week – Thornbury High School

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Lynn Swannell – Mount Eliza Secondary College, Victoria, Australia

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

Librarian Talk – Wendy Wright – Avonside Girls’ High & Shirley Boys’ High

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

15 downloadable resources every school librarian needs

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Web App of the Week – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Librarian Talk – Leisa Westerhof – Norwood Morialta High School

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Web App of the Week – Barker College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Delia Achten – Ashburton College

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Librarian Talk – Frances Currie – Prendergast Vale School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Durrington High School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Melissa Ashby – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Web App of the Week: Matariki – Free Download

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Librarian Talk – Sasha Roth – Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Web App of the Week – Wanaka Primary School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Librarian Talk – Jill Marriott – Corinna School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Gemma Sosnowsky – Queen Elizabeth School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Librarian Talk – Donna Harris – Great Baddow High School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Web App of the Week – Abington Friends School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Kay Morfett – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Web App of the Week – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Librarian Talk – Gabrielle Wales – Broadland High Ormiston Academy

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Web App of the Week – Rolleston School

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Librarian Talk – Sally Baker – High School Librarian

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Web App of the Week: Harmony ISD

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Barbara Krainik – Burgundy Farm Country Day School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Jill Adler – St. Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: The Jedi Academy

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Web App of the Week: St Anthony’s High School

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk – Lori Davis – District Librarian

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

Librarian Talk — Toni Vahlsing — Abington Friends School 

We’re Fully Operational and Have Remote Learning Covered

We’re Fully Operational and Have Remote Learning Covered

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Diversity and Inclusion – Accessit Book Club

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Supporting mental health in the library: Mallinson Library, Wellington College, Berkshire

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Loving books this Valentine’s Day!

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

Information and Digital Literacy – Richer Through Collaboration

The library – a safe space for everyone

The library – a safe space for everyone

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

On the Road Again – NZ Roadshow 2019

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Genrefying your library: Unley High School

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Building a Strong Reading Culture: St Rita’s College Library

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Australia Roadshow 2019 – a great success!

Creating an amazing online library presence

Creating an amazing online library presence

Deepening literacy engagement

Deepening literacy engagement

Tsukuba International School

Tsukuba International School

Otago Boys’ High School

Otago Boys’ High School

Le Régent College

Le Régent College

Wesley Intermediate School

Wesley Intermediate School

Fuqua School

Fuqua School

Kamo High School

Kamo High School

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Mental Health Foundation of NZ

Leicestershire County Council

Leicestershire County Council

Cambridge High School

Cambridge High School

Saint Kentigern College

Saint Kentigern College

Culford School

Culford School

Greenhithe School

Greenhithe School

Reynella East College

Reynella East College

Tyndale Christian School

Tyndale Christian School

Shepparton High School

Shepparton High School