Libraries & Homeschoolers: Working Together

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Libraries & Homeschoolers: Working Together

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A Home Away from Home: Libraries & Homeschoolers

According to a 2003 study by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), when homeschoolers were asked about their primary source of books and/or curriculum, 78 percent named their public library. This article offers ideas for outreach and support to homeschooling families, including ideas for creating a homeschool information hot spot, touring the library with homeschool groups, offering targeted programs and more.

19 Ways to Get the Most from Your Library

We all know the library is the homeschooler’s best friend. Where else can you go to find all those wonderful books, DVDs, and more for free? But your librarian can be even more helpful than you had realized. Here are some tips for getting the most from your library.

Homeschool Library Connection

The library can be an awesome resource for homeschoolers, but is useless if it doesn't carry the books that homeschoolers need. The sole purpose of the Homeschool Library Connection email list is to help homeschoolers make purchasing suggestions to their public libraries.

How to Homeschool Using Only the Library

The library is a wonderful resource for any homeschool parent. The resources found there help to enrich the curriculum or you can even use the library for all of your homeschooling material. These tips will help you get the most out of your local library.

Homeschooling and Libraries

This blog is written by Adrienne Furness and represents efforts to explore the homeschooling world and help librarians build good relationships with homeschooling families. Adrienne is a freelance writer and Children's Librarian at the Webster Public Library outside of Rochester, New York.

Libraries and Homeschools: The Perfect Partnership

This articles details all the ways that libraries can assist and support homeschoolers, including meeting spaces, collections of local materials, lectures and programs, book discussions, foreign language materials, and so much more.

Four Reasons Why Libraries are Homeschooling Hotspots

There are four reasons why libraries should be indispensable for homeschooling families. They offer resources and materials for homeschool students, individualized help and tutoring, activities and events for homeschoolers, and opportunities for parents.

AHA Library List

A networking list for homeschoolers, librarians, and anyone interested in libraries and homeschooling. This email group is sponsored by the American Homeschool Association.

Homeschooling Families Tap into Library Services, from Storytime to Science Equipment

Across the country, librarians are stepping up to serve families who choose to educate their children themselves. Libraries have an important role in advancing education in whatever format. Many libraries offer events for homeschool families and offer programs and services that cater to home educators.

Homeschoolers at the Public Library: Are Library Services and Policies Keeping Pace?

Homeschoolers are a resourceful, fast-growing segment of the population. Their service, programming, material, and technology needs are similar to those of other patrons of the public library, but uniquely different in terms of intensity and focus. These differences present unique challenges for public libraries. This research presents the results of two surveys that examined the relationship between homeschoolers and the public library. The first survey asked public librarians about the impact of homeschoolers on public libraries in the Capital District of New York State. The second survey asked homeschoolers from the same region about their library use patterns as well as service needs. Homeschoolers were not placing undue service demands on public libraries, and, in fact, appear to be a service area awaiting development. This article is in the Journal of the Library Administration and Management Section of the New York Library Association. Scroll down to page five to find the start of the article.

The Perfect Partnership: Public Libraries and Homeschoolers

As a community partner, the public library can assist this growing population’s needs. The best scenario is one in which the library staff works with the local homeschool community.

Homeschoolers and the Public Library

Public libraries are invaluable tools for DIY educators and home education. Home-based educators utilize various curriculum sources to assist in teaching. The National Center for Educational Statistics published a survey from 2012, in which 70% of homeschooled parents cite the public library as their most valued resource. This article, written for the American Library Association, details how librarians can meet the needs and work in partnership with homeschooling families.