Diagrams

Diagrams are used to visually illustrate information. They are frequently used in both the library and the regular classroom.  The most popular and well know would be the Venn Diagram. This is used to show the differences/similarities of two items. Diagrams can be used to distinguish between the characters in a book/s, to teach the literary elements of a story or the life cycle of a butterfly. They can be a very valuable teaching tool.

Advantages

-Inexpensive

-Colorful

-Easy to clean

-Easy to store

-Easy to use

-Portable

-Can be used multiple times

-Strong teaching tool

-Can be used in both small and large groups

Disadvantages

-Is not durable

-Is not interactive

-It must be large enough for everyone to see

- May not hold student interest

Implications for Collection Development

Many libary media specialists and teachers are now just projecting the images onto a screen for the whole class to view. However, handheld diagrams are still a viable resource in the LMC and classroom especially in a small group situation or centers. Because there are so many available to purchase, on such varied topics it is easy to find diagrams that you need. There inexpensive so they are easy to replace should one become damaged.

Copyright Considerations

As a general rule you can make one copy of a diagram. If you have any questions about whether or not a diagram is copyrighted, you should check with the publisher.

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