What is Bookshare and how can educators and students access its services?
Page 5: Bookshare Memberships
Now that you are familiar with what Bookshare has to offer, let’s turn our attention to how eligible students can access Bookshare materials. Bookshare offers two types of free access for eligible students: Organizational Memberships and Individual Memberships. Read on to learn more about each.
Organizational Memberships are part of an account managed by a student’s school or district. When a school or district establishes an Organizational Account, educators who work directly with eligible students (e.g., general educators, special educators, assistive technology specialists, teachers of the visually impaired [TVIs], media specialists) can be added to the account as sponsors. As a sponsor, they can add eligible students to the account. With an Organizational Membership, eligible students can:
- Access school-required reading materials assigned to them by a sponsor
- Request that their sponsor add books for pleasure reading to their account
Note: Sponsors must agree and adhere to Bookshare’s membership terms, which require copyrighted Bookshare materials to only be used for eligible students and not for personal use or other students.
Individual Memberships are managed by the student or a parent or guardian for those under 18. Although students with Organizational Accounts can only access materials assigned to them by a sponsor, those with Individual Accounts can search for and read materials of their choosing. Individual Memberships promote reading for pleasure, student autonomy, and a lifelong love of reading. With an Individual Membership, eligible students can:
- Access the full Bookshare collection
- Find and read books and other materials on their own
- Request new materials to be added to the collection
- Submit support requests independently
Note: If a student is already an Organizational Member, a sponsor can easily initiate the process for them to create an Individual Membership. If a student is not an Organizational Member, they or a parent or guardian can apply for an Individual Membership and submit a Proof of Disability form to verify their eligibility. Students under 18 must have parent or guardian permission to register.
Although Organizational and Individual Memberships are similar, each account type has specific benefits and limitations; therefore, students are encouraged to have both. The table below provides a comparison.
| Question | Organizational Membership | Individual Membership |
| How much does membership cost? | Free for all U.S. schools, districts, and educational institutions (PK–12 and postsecondary education) | Free for U.S. students (PK–12 and postsecondary education); once a member is no longer a student, Bookshare pricing fees apply |
| How is the student’s eligibility verified? | By adding the student to the account, the sponsor attests that the student is eligible. |
If the student is already an Organizational Member, no additional verification is needed. If the student is not an Organizational Member, eligibility must be verified by submitting a Proof of Disability form or proof of membership with Learning Ally or the National Library Service. |
| How long does a Bookshare membership last? | A student’s Organizational Membership lasts as long as they are enrolled in the educational institution; if the student changes schools, they must be reenrolled. | An Individual Membership follows a student, even when they are no longer enrolled in an educational institution. |
| Who oversees the student’s Bookshare account? | Sponsors |
Parent or guardian if the student is under 18 The student if 18 or older |
| Which materials can the student read? | Only those materials that have been assigned to them by a sponsor |
Any materials they choose from the Bookshare collection Note: Children under 18 are restricted from accessing any materials the publisher has labeled as adult content. |
| Who can request new materials to be added to the Bookshare collection? | Sponsors must request materials on behalf of their students. | Members can submit requests to Bookshare independently. |
Because of the different benefits afforded by each membership, students are encouraged to have both an Organizational Membership and an Individual Membership. In this interview, Jacqueline Knight explains why she encourages students to get an Individual Account (time: 0:44).
Transcript: Jacqueline Knight, MA, ATACP, AAC-DCSC
I highly encourage students to get Individual Accounts because reading needs to happen at any time of the day. It doesn’t just happen at school. The Individual Account allows the student to access all of Bookshare’s materials any time they want. Good readers read all the time. We need to set up students so that they can become independent readers, and that doesn’t happen when they are dependent on an educator to select and assign a book for them. We want parents to be able to say to their student, “Hey, we went to the library and the librarian recommended this book, so let’s put it on your Bookshare.” I want students to feel empowered to become independent readers—whether for school or for themselves—and Individual Accounts can help facilitate this.
Keep in Mind
Bookshare is not only a useful tool for PK–12 education but a valuable aid for lifelong learning. When a student qualifies for Bookshare, they can remain a member for life. Bookshare’s free membership applies to any eligible postsecondary student, regardless of age, in addition to students in grades PK–12. Even when they are no longer enrolled in an educational institution, eligible adults can continue to access books and other materials in Bookshare through an Individual Membership for a nominal annual fee.
Activity
For each scenario below, decide whether an Organizational Membership or an Individual Membership would be most appropriate.
Gema enjoys making pottery and would like to find some books on different ceramic techniques to build new skills.
Thomas wants to read a series of fantasy novels in his free time.
Thomas needs to access two nonfiction books for a social studies project.
Liza’s teacher has assigned a short chapter book to be read by her whole class.
