Wednesday, April 24, 2019
April is National School Libraries Month. The BadgerLink team is proud to join Wisconsin Library Media Specialists in celebrating our school libraries this month. We want BadgerLink to be a strong set of online resources in school libraries, and hope that you use BadgerLink in your library and classroom this month and every month of the school year. About that usage...
This time of year may be when you are collecting data and information for your annual reports and library planning cycle. Our School Library Media Education Consultant, Monica Treptow, recommends including data on use of BadgerLink resources in your reports and your long-range library plans as a great way to demonstrate your skill of investing strategically in digital resources as a Future Ready Librarian. Although BadgerLink is not a line-item on your district’s budget, your integration of this resource and its documented use among your students and staff allows money, such as Common School Funds, to be spent in other areas that enhance, expand, and diversify your digital and print collections even further.
Britannica, EBSCO, and TeachingBooks can provide usage statistics at the school district level. To begin tracking your usage, submit your district’s external IP addresses on our new online IP report form and mention you would like to receive usage reports. In some cases data will be available immediately. However, if BadgerLink does not have your current network information registered with each vendor, there will be a month-long delay before reports can be sent.
The BadgerLink team is happy to help you start collecting usage data to make online resources better for students and strengthen our libraries in every district in Wisconsin. Please contact us today!