Surfing Down Under
Walter Minkel -- School Library Journal, 2/1/2000
Palmerston School Resource Centre: www.palmdps.act.edu.au/library/resource_centremain.htm
Barbara Braxton (barbara@dynamite.com.au), a teacher-librarian at the Palmerston District Primary School in Australia's capital city of Canberra, confesses to knowing little about Web-site building. And yet, with the help of Peter Rugendyke, a computer specialist who is artistic, she has created an efficient and attractive new resource center site for the school's library.
Tailor Made: According to Braxton, Palmerston's principal, John Griffin, wanted a school that was not "a carbon copy of any school in Canberra, with everything just imported and spread over the children like a layer of Glad Wrap." The effective use of technology is important to the school--and its friendly Web site, launched in 1996, reflects that, making good use of Rugendyke's abilities with Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro.
Easy Access: The "About Your Library" page enables users to click on frequently asked questions and jump to easily digestible answers. The "Student's School Bag" collects links with an emphasis on sites about Australia and the Canberra area. The "Safe Surfing" page offers students and parents a guide to Net etiquette online. The search engines page emphasizes Australian tools such as Web Wombat (www.webwombat.com.au/).
Well Connected: The rest of the Palmerston site is just as informative. The "Student's Cubby House" is a pleasant way to explore some of the recommended sites, such as Homework Helper and Australian Sport. The "Reading Survival Guide" offers tips to help parents with their kids' reading at home. Unfortunately, Peter Rugendyke, newly married, is heading off to western Australia. However, the site will continue to build on what he started, Braxton says, and aims to provide a meeting place and resource base for the school and online community.
