1-Thing Wednesday: Destiny Quest

Using Destiny Quest is a big part of our library time with students. During check out at each session in the library, students can access Destiny Quest, log in, and do any number of things there.

Most often, students respond to friend requests and send other request themselves, sometimes making book recommendations when they do so. Students also add books to their virtual bookshelves, adding not only books they've read themselves, but also books they've enjoyed as read alouds. 

Part of our library curriculum includes writing book reviews, and Destiny Quest--along with our online catalog--offer students an authentic audience for their writing. We take several library sessions to draft and revise our reviews, and slowly our online catalog has become a place where students can read peers' reviews and thoughts about books in the collection.

We're Using Destiny Quest!

Our online catalog features a social/visual component called Destiny Quest.

Once students are logged into their Destiny Quest account, the system allows them to:

• search the online catalog
• place books into virtual bookshelves--Now Reading, Have Read, Want to Read
• send and receive friend requests from other DCG students with accounts
• recommend books to friends
• view similar read-alikes
• write book reviews

Recently, all students in Grades 3 - 5 at Dallas Center Elementary created and then accessed their Destiny Quest accounts to see everything it has to offer. On the QuestHome page, students can see the Top 10 books based on current checkout statistics, browse different public lists for reading suggestions, and see what books have most recently been added to the collection.

To access Destiny Quest at home, please refer to this bookmark:

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS ONLINE

Dallas Center Elementary students used Destiny Quest during library lessons earlier in October. Be sure to ask them about it!

Destiny Quest App

Here is Mrs. White showing off her new App- Destiny Quest! Destiny Quest can now be accessed through this free app!

Go beyond the walls of our library with the Destiny Quest Mobile App! With this new app, you can search our library catalog anytime! No more waiting for library day! Not only that, but you can check your account, add to your virtual bookshelf, place holds, and view top books in the library. It is a free download. For more information and some screen shots of this new app, click here.

When you download the app, it will ask for your district's web address. Here is the one that you need: http://destiny.dc-grimes.k12.ia.us.

Here are two tutorials to help you get started: