Ramapo Catskill Library System, NY
By Walter Minkel -- School Library Journal, 9/1/1998
KidsClick! is a new Web directory for young people. It's easy to use and bibliographically sound. It's been designed with serious thought about how kids search. For these reasons, I've selected it as SLJ Online Library Web Site of the Month.
After analyzing Web subject directories for young people, Jerry Kuntz (jkuntz@rcls.org), Electronic Resources Consultant for New York's Ramapo Catskill Library System, found that many were incomplete and not updated often enough. Kuntz and his colleagues believed that it was feasible to build their own Web guide and search engine. In the summer of 1997, Kuntz received a Library Service and Technology Act grant to cover the costs of a programming consultant and graphic artist. Then Kuntz called in children's librarians from member libraries to discuss design and data structure issues.
The result is a site that stands apart from most youth-oriented directories. In addition to offering a database of screened sites--standard fare for such directories--KidsClick! uses searching software that has been customized to help young people find good sites.
Kuntz hopes that more librarians will contribute to children's Web guides. "Commercial sites that mix advertising with the idea of guiding kids to resources are sending a mixed signal," said Kuntz. "On the other hand, they have the resources to make their sites much more engaging. KidsClick! was built with a $12,000 grant; it's nice to think about what we could do with the resources of Yahooligans."
--Walter Minkel (wmink@teleport.com), Multnomah County (OR) Library School Corps Technology Trainer
