Schools often have their finger on the pulse of what is going on in the community. While they would love to meet every need that arises, it takes a village. There are many resources and organizations out there who are already doing important work to meet various needs. So instead of recreating the wheel, schools can be the central entity that gathers these resources to help folks access what they need. Building a Virtual Resource Center will reinforce your school’s role as a community-centered organization that is committed to the success and wellbeing of every student and family.
Not sure what a Virtual Resource Center is? A virtual resource center is an online platform that provides centralized access to information, tools, and support for a specific community or purpose. It often includes resources such as educational materials, community services, events, and guides, tailored to meet the diverse needs of its users. Accessible 24/7 and from anywhere, it ensures users can connect with relevant information when they need it the most.


Follow these steps to organize and maintain a dynamic and effective resource center for your school community.
Step 1: Define Your Purpose & Goals
Determine the primary purpose of the virtual resource center. Is it for academic support, career exploration, mental health resources, family services, or community engagement?
Identify the audience by clarifying whether the primary users will be students, families, or staff.
Set specific goals for your resource center (i.e.): provide access to 50 curated resources, host at least two live resource events per month, ensure inclusivity by offering resources in multiple languages, etc.
Step 2: Identify & Gather Resources
Map Out Key Resource Categories. Here are some example categories you might use:
Academic Support (tutoring services, study guides, etc.)
Career & College Readiness (job boards, career planning tools, etc.)
Health & Wellness (mental health helplines, fitness apps, etc.)
Family Support (local food banks, child care, etc.)
Technology Access (free internet programs, device assistance, etc.)
Curate Resources: Reach out to local organizations, nonprofits, and school staff for recommendations. Ensure the resources are reputable, relevant, and accessible. Make sure that the resources are inclusive and reflect the ideals and values of your community.
Categorize & Label: Clearly group resources into labeled sections for easy navigation.
Step 3: Select and Set Up a Platform
Choose a User-Friendly Platform:
Web Based: Google Sites, Wix, WordPress, Your School’s Website or LMS
Collaborative One-Stop-Shops: Google Docs, Google Sheets
Toolkits: Google Slides
Ensure Accessibility: Use simple navigation menus. Consider translation where needed. Comply with accessibility guidelines (e.g., alt text for images, screen reader compatibility).
Integrate Interactive Tools: Embed forms/opportunity for community feedback. Add live chat options or contact information for support.
Step 4: Create a Content Plan
Determine Who Will Use the Resource Center: Make sure that you are communicating who the resources in this center are for: families, teachers, students, combinations of these groups, etc.
Develop Clear Instructions: Write step-by-step guides for accessing and using resources. Include FAQs to answer common questions.
Add Visual Appeal: Use videos, graphics, and interactive elements to make the site engaging. Include school branding for a sense of connection.
Update Regularly: Schedule monthly reviews to add new resources and archive outdated ones.
Step 5: Promote the Resource Center
Launch with a Virtual Event: Host an introduction webinar or live demo to showcase features and resources.
Use Multiple Channels: Spread awareness about the resource through social media, school websites and/or physical flyers with QR codes to direct people to the center. Use these marketing templates to promote your Resource Center.
Create a Newsletter: Share a monthly newsletter featuring updates, new resources, or success stories.
Highlight Specific Resources/Themes/Themes/Categories: Highlight the contents of the Resource Center in smaller, more digestible bites.
Step 6: Engage the Community
Host Virtual Workshops & Events: Partner with local organizations to offer webinars, Q&A sessions, skill-building workshops, or partner spotlights.
Facilitate Resource Navigation: Provide live support or walkthroughs for users unfamiliar with virtual tools. Create simple how-to documents or videos explaining the resource center’s features asynchronously.
Offer Training & PD to Staff: Empower staff and build their confidence to guide families and students to use the center.
Step 7: Collect Feedback & Improve
Survey Users: Send periodic surveys to gather feedback on what’s working and what could improve.
Track Metrics: Analyze site traffic, resource usage, and event attendance to measure impact.
Adapt Based on Feedback: Incorporate suggestions and update resources to reflect community needs.
Step 8: Build Sustainability
Develop a Maintenance Team: Assign staff or volunteers to monitor and update the resource center regularly.
Establish Partnerships: Maintain ongoing relationships with community organizations and contributors.
Use our Innovageous Resource Center Planning Worksheet to organize all of your thoughts and help put your plans into action! By following these steps, you can create a well-organized, accessible, and impactful virtual resource center that fosters connection, support, and growth in your school community, while making sure that important resources are at the fingertips of those who need them!
Need a thought partner or want to take your Resource Center planning to the next level? Partner with Innovageous! Set up a time to chat with us at calendly.com/innovageous.
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