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
• Students expected to
use a library
– 5 yes
– 3 no
• Research
– 3 yes
– 5 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
Issues
• Dedicated to students • Access issues
– Ex. Florida’s Jessica
• Age/stage appropriate
Lunsford Act
collection
• Lack of coordination
• Curriculum related
between teachers &
• Staffed with K12
library
trained personnel
• 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-Mail
t.cavanaugh@unf.edu
c.cavanaugh@unf.edu
References
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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