1. for students by staff & students as a a search strategy! Pathfinders:

2. What is a Pathfinder ? Around for since the 1970s. Purpose: to help library users navigate resources. Establishes a plan of action – “clears a path through the forest”. Now Web-based and even more necessary! Sharable 24/7 - for the good of all Web Users. Scalable—makes teachers’ and librarians’ advice vastly available. Models selection, evaluation, strategies, and balance!

3. And that’s where they belong! Pathfinders go online!

4. Why should school libraries create Pathfinders? Model selection of resources Scaffold good research strategy Can be customized for groups Promote library staff as information professionals Inspire new partnerships Alleviate confusion for the end-user Powerfully represent the school/district

5. Why create Pathfinders for students? So they won’t miss the really good stuff! - Promote a wide and balanced range of relevant resources Displays range of information choices Move students away from reliance on free Web or their favourite search engine Improve student thinking: –Reflect on the process –Reflect on searching strategies

6. More on why...  Focuses research  Encourages quality products  maximizes student use of time and allows for higher-level tasks  Fits students’ need for independence

7. Best Practice! Pathfinder Models and ExamplesPathfinder Models Multnomah Homework Center - Social Issues Internet Public Library- Pathfinders Author Pathfinder IPL Camden County Library System Black History John Steinbeck Indianapolis Marion County Public Library Economics

8. On Designing Pathfinders Designing Pathfinders for Children and Young Adults Designing Pathfinders for Children and Young Adults (Annette Lamb) Wenatchee’s Pathfinder for Creating Pathfinders Vandergrift’s Pathfinder

9. Pathfinders by Students ! A thoughtful alternative to the traditional paper!

10. Why Should Students Create Pathfinders? Inspires thoughtful, comprehensive research Annotation skills Selection—only the best resources Broad spectrum of resource types Evaluation Entry point to the oral defense

11. Pathfinder Template Adapt for your own setting! Title - Introduction - Scope Reference Works Circulating Works Online Databases Gateway Sites – Internet Specific Web Sites Organizations Video / Media Resources Keywords, Phrases, Subject Headings Search Tool Links

12. Use as a Searching Tool! Because more libraries are creating online pathfinders, using “pathfinder” as a keyword is likely to pull up some expert advice!

13. Sample Searches  Cancer pathfinder  Canada pathfinder  Shakespeare pathfinder  Gun Control pathfinder  Iraq pathfinder  Poetry pathfinder  Body systems pathfinder

14. Adapted from: Joyce Valenza joyce_valenza@sdst.org With Thanks