Library databases provide access to students from home with passwords specific to the subscribing building. In a time like this, it is important to provide access to those databases from home easily. What is the best way to make this work?
Create a password-protected page on your library website. In school newsletters or the building learning management system (like Canvas, Google Classroom, or Blackboard) ask teachers to post the password. This one password will open a document with all the database passwords.
Mac: Open your database passwords document in Preview. Click to save the document, but choose Show Details in the Save window. Click Encrypt and enter the password.
Windows/Word: Use the options in Word to set up a password.
Create a Google Doc with the database passwords. Share only the document with those in your district. Students will log in with their district credentials to access. Place the link on your library website and students will log in to access as well.
Distribute the document to classroom teachers to post in the learning management system. Every student that has access to the learning management system can view it. Teachers will appreciate having an individual copy, and the password page is protected by posting it in the learning management system.
What other ways do you post your database passwords for students to easily access? Please share below for more ideas.
Author: Becca Munson
Becca Munson, Librarian, is a National Board Certified Teacher with over 23 years of experience in education. She is currently a school librarian at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS. Becca continues to find ways to positively impact student learning with literacy initiatives, technology integration, and building rapport with students and staff. Follow her on Twitter to view the library in action @bvwlibrary and @beccamunson .
Categories: Blog Topics, Technology
Leave a Reply