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
• Reading effects (YITS)
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 Topics
• 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
• Number of
Schools with a
Librarian
Full
time 18%
– 3 full
– 5 part time
– 9 none
None
53%
• Library Services
Physical
– 6 physical library
19%
–
7
online
library
No Serv
34%– 8 subscription library
– 11 no service
Online
22%
Part
29%
Subscription
25%
From twenty three online schools
Initial Survey Results (cont.)
Library Priority
None
–
2 highestHighest
11%
17%
– 4 high
– 5 moderate High
22%
–
4
low
Low
22%
– 3 no
Moderate
28%
Library Access
None
– 8 local schoolLocal
21%
– 11 public School
33%
libraries
– 5 no
expectations
Public
46% From twenty three responses
Initial Survey Results (cont.)
VS provides for:
• Reading Enjoyment
– 7 yes
– 11 no
Yes
39%
• Research
– 10 yes
– 10 no
No
50%
Yes
50%
No
61%
From twenty three responses
Initial 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
Demographics
Of the responding schools:
• Annual Budget for libraries
– $0-16,000
• Enrollment
– 95-15000
• Certified Librarians
–3
Implications and
Recommendations
As more students do more of their programs
online, they will have fewer opportunities to
interact face-to-face with school librarians.
To fill this gap, online schools will need to develop
their own library services, partner with area school
libraries, or provide third party library access so
that students get the guidance that they need to
develop 21st century skills and collaborate with
course instructors.
• Presentation
http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/
presentations/presentations.htm
• Survey
http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/projects/
research/survey_of_virtual_schools.htm
• E-Mail
t.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/aaslpositionstatementvalueindepende
nt.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/accreditatio
n.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-accredrecog_associations.html
“ No single place at the
school is more important in
developing reading than the
school library.”
(Paul Kropp)