virtual schools and the school library terence cavanaugh cathy cavanaugh university of north florida...
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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
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