Virtual Schools and the School Library

Terence Cavanaugh

Cathy Cavanaugh

University of North Florida

http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/presentations/presentations.htm

School Library Missions

• “To ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information” (AASL 1998, p. 6).

• Accomplished through the two primary purposes: – supporting the curriculum– promoting reading for enjoyment.

• Ensure that students are provided with opportunities that will engage them in reading, and create an environment where reading is valued and encouraged (AASL 1999).

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)

School Library Advantages

• “Research findings from more than 4,000 schools indicate links between academic achievement and strong school libraries”

• Other findings indicate that strong libraries correlate to higher standardized test scores

Students – Millennial Generation

• Majority use tools such as Google to research a topic

(Kaminski, Seel, & Cullen 2003)

• While using such search tools, the students recognize that they are wasting time in their research process and desire assistance

(McEuen 2001)

DL Success Factors

•Effective practices based on experience and research. Resources--Processes--Results cycle (Cavanaugh, 2005).

•Practices that support library services in virtual schools are:

– Student services (Resources)– Qualified, experienced staff (Resources) – Appropriate learning materials (Resources) – Student access to learning resources (Resources) – Focus on content and students (Practices) – Development of information literacy (Practices) – Program accreditation (Results)

Accrediting Agencies

U.S. DoE recognized regional accrediting bodies: • (MSAS) Middle States Association of Colleges and

Schools • (NCACSI) North Central Association of Colleges and

Schools• (NEASC) New England Association of Schools and

Colleges• (NAAS) Northwest Association of Accredited Schools• (SACS) Southern Association of Colleges and Schools• (WASC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges

Accreditation Requirements

Library Services

• Staffing

• Collection – Integration

• Practices– Planning – Budget

Sample Accreditation Requirements Related to School Libraries

North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement http://www.ncacasi.org/standard/cp/ra

• Library Staffing: – The school employs the equivalent of at least one professionally

trained individual.

• Library Collection: – An appropriate collection of books and periodicals is provided to

support the instructional program. In addition to print materials, the collection should include filmstrips, computer programs, tape and disc recordings, and videotapes.

• Library Practices: – The professional staff has developed a statement of policy for

the selection of reference materials, instructional materials for the library, and textbooks.

VS and Brick Accreditation Standards (sample)

NAAS Brick School Virtual School

Certified library media specialist

Required – Number depends on school enrollment

Required – no population mentioned

Collection A wide range of materials, technologies, or other library/information services required

A wide range of materials, technologies, or other library/information services required

Access Students, faculty, and support staff have regular and frequent access to services

No requirement

Independent inquiry

Enables students and faculty to use various resources and technologies

Enables students and faculty to use various resources and technologies

Policies Policies are in place for the selection and removal of information resources and the use of technologies and the Internet.

Policies are in place for the selection and removal of information resources and the use of technologies and the Internet.

Study

For this study, librarians, teachers, administrators from online schools were surveyed and interviewed to gather information about their student library services and teacher/library collaboration.

Information from accrediting agencies regarding virtual school library requirements.

Study Methods

•Online surveys– Administrators– Librarians– Primary language

instructors

• Interviews– Accrediting

agencies– Accredited schools– Teachers

http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/projects/research/survey_of_virtual_schools.htm

Survey Topics

• General/Demographic

• Personnel

• Access

• Funding/budget

• Accreditation

• Students

Survey Questions

• The priority given to library services• How students access library resources (local

school, public library, online, etc.)• Whether the school has a budget for library

materials• Whether the school employs certified librarians• Demographics of the students served• School’s current accreditation status• The collaboration between distance learning

teachers and school librarians.

Initial Survey Results

• Librarian– 1 full time

– 1 part time

– 5 none

• Library Services– 3 library

– 3 online library

– 3 subscription library

– 8 no service

From twelve online schools

Initial Survey Results (cont.)

• Library Priority– 0 highest

– 2 high

– 2 moderate

– 2 low

– 2 no

• Library Access– 3 local school

– 5 public libraries

– 3 no expectations

From eight responses

Initial Survey Results (cont.)

VS provides for:• Reading Enjoyment

– 3 yes– 5 no

• Research – 3 yes– 5 no

• Students expected to use a library– 5 yes– 3 no

From eight responses

Initial Survey Results (cont.)

Teacher interviews

Teachers working with part-time online students had:

• no collaboration with regional librarians/libraries

• not even considered contacting regional school libraries

Online Library – Subscribe

• Subscription library fees based on usage• 24/7 access to the collection• School purchases a collection of titles or pays a

service fee• Only one student at a time may access each

purchased copy • Set the checkout time allotment

Online Library – Vendors

Library subscription vendors:• netLibrary (http://www.netlibrary.com/Gateway.aspx) • ebrary (http://www.ebrary.com/index.jsp) • Questia (http://www.questia.com/Index.jsp) • OverDrive – Digital Library Reserve (http://

www.overdrive.com)

Students with special needs (free): • Bookshare.org (www.bookshare.org) • Accessible Book Collection (

www.accessiblebookcollection.org)

Online Library - Create

• Personnel • Server

– Adobe’s Content Server (timed checkout)

• Collection– Construct– Purchase

• Blackmask• Gutenberg • Baen

School Library

Benefits• Dedicated to students• Age/stage appropriate

collection• Curriculum related• Staffed with K12

trained personnel

Issues• Access issues

– Ex. Florida’s Jessica Lunsford Act

• Lack of coordination between teachers & library

• Collection may not reflect VS curriculum

Public Library

Benefits• Free and public• Expanded time

access• Wide range of

materials (preK-adult+)

• Reading enjoyment focus

Issues• Not dedicated to

student applications• Lacking curriculum

support• Lacking research

focus

• Presentation http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/presentations/presentations.htm

• Survey http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/projects/research/survey_of_virtual_schools.htm

• E-Mailt.cavanaugh@unf.edu c.cavanaugh@unf.edu

References

• AASL (American Association of School Librarians). (1999). Position Statement on the Value of Independent Reading the School Library media Program. Adopted June 1994, revised July 1999. Retrieved October 2006 from http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/positionstatements/aaslpositionstatementvalueindependent.htm.

• AASL (American Association of School Librarians). (1998). Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning. Chicago: American Library Association.

• ALA (American Library Association). (2003). Information Literacy and Accreditation Agencies.  http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlissues/acrlinfolit/infolitstandards/infolitaccred/accreditation.htm

• Cavanaugh, C. (2005). Distance Education Success Factors. Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology. Khosrow-Pour, M. Ed. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Reference.

• Kaminski, K., Seel, P., and Cullen, K. (2003). Technology Literate Students? Results from a Survey EDUCAUSE Quarterly, V26, N3, pp 34-40. Retrieved October 2006 from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/eqm0336.pdf .

• Libraries called key. (2004, February/March). Reading Today, 21(4), 1, 4. Retrieved October 2006 from http://www.reading.org/publications/reading_today/samples/RTY-0402-libraries.html.

• McEuen, S. F. (2001). How Fluent with Information Technology are our Students? EDUCAUSE Quarterly, V24 N4 p8-17. Retrieved September 2006 from http://www.educause.edu/apps/eq/eqm01/eqm014.asp.

• USDOE. (2006). Recognized Accrediting Associations. http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-accred-recog_associations.html