Virtual Schools and the School Library

1. Virtual Schools and the School Library Terence Cavanaugh Cathy Cavanaugh University of North Florida http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/presentations/presentations.htm

2. 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)

3. 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)

4. 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)

5. 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)

6. 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

7. Library Services Staffing Collection Integration Practices Planning Budget Accreditation Requirements

8. 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.

9. VS and Brick Accreditation Standards (sample)

10. 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.

11. Online surveys Administrators Librarians Primary language instructors Interviews Accrediting agencies Accredited schools Teachers Study Methods http://www.unf.edu/~tcavanau/projects/research/survey_of_virtual_schools.htm

12. Survey Topics • General/Demographic • Personnel • Access • Funding/budget • Accreditation • Students

13. 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.

14. Number of Schools with a Librarian 3 full time 5 part time 9 none Library Services 6 physical library 7 online library 8 subscription library 11 no service Initial Survey Results From twenty three online schools

15. Library Priority 2 highest 4 high 5 moderate 4 low 3 no Library Access 8 local school 11 public libraries 5 no expectations Initial Survey Results (cont.) From twenty threeresponses

16. VS provides for: Reading Enjoyment 7 yes 11 no Research 10 yes 10 no Initial Survey Results (cont.) From twenty threeresponses

17. 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

18. Demographics Of the responding schools: • Annual Budget for libraries • $0-16,000 • Enrollment • 95-15000 • Certified Librarians • 3

19. 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.

20. 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.educ.cavanaugh@unf.edu

21. 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

22. “ No single place at the school is more important in developing reading than the school library.” (Paul Kropp)