Those of you who have lists of your own, please feel free to send this out. --------------------------------------------------------------------- I think I may have mentioned this on some groups before, but we (my family) are going to do this over the summer. HSLDA is doing a drive to get homeschool materials in public libraries and they are asking homeschooling families to get the word out to libraries and other homeschooling families. The libraries can request the materials themselves, but HSLDA is asking for families to sponsor their local libraries. One family can sponsor a library or a group of families can sponsor a library. It would be your gift to the library. We are participating in our library summer reading program and I know many of you are as well. I think this would make a great summer project for a family, raising the money together, getting in touch with the library, etc. We are sponsoring the Norwood library here in Knoxville. It would also be a great opportunity for churches, support groups, co-ops, etc., to sponsor a library. The library you sponsor will receive books and other resources to help borrowers learn about homeschooling, including a supply of brochures which will be replenished by HSLDA for free. They get everything for $35. A very reasonable amount of money, I think, and very attainable for fundraising. HSLDA is covering the actual cost above the $35 sponsor donation. You can get all the details at http://www.hslda.org/hslibrarykit/ . This is open to everyone whether or not you belong to HSLDA. I think it would be great if we could get these materials in every library across the country (now that's a lofty goal!!). HSLDA's goal is 1,000 libraries over the next 12 months. Happy Sponsoring!!
VERY INTERESTING!!!!! I know that our library here could use some help in that department. I was/am so disappointed in the lack of homeschooling material we have here. BELIEVE ME the ladies there know me I will have to take time to read this and see if i can help in some way. Thanks for posting it! Tina
Hi! I work at a local library and we'd like to be able to offer programs to homeschoolers in our area. I'm not quite sure how to find them. I did just read your post on homeschool library material and printed it out, but what would be a next step? What would you all want from your library? Marie p.s. I don't know how big the homeschool community is in our town. Obviously the bigger it is, the more we can offer. Where can I find a local forum for homeschooling?
Marie, Depending on your area really depends on how the homeschoolers are connected. Some areas are REALLY connected and other areas you have to know the 5 step secret hand shake to find them. I'd recommend a flyer at the library (all homeschoolers use the library) asking what homeschoolers would like to see be added to the library. Beware as they might just fall over at the fact that you asked.
The way you find homeschoolers in your area is by doing a google search for your state. Most homeschooling groups are divided into 3 basic groups: state, regional and local. The state and regional groups can direct you to the local group in your area. Each hs group is different. Some are super organized, others are laid back. Be sure to advetise both to the regional group (bigger group, it may have a different name in your state) and to several local groups. A lot of areas have secular groups, christian only groups, both christian and secular mixed, catholic only and other variety. So just because you advertise with one does not mean the word gets out to the rest. But ALL of them need homeschooling magazines, curriculum and books. In each addition, some of the homeschool groups need free rooms to meet in in order to conduct meetings for the purposes of furthering information regarding the local law to mentoring new ones. Free rooms also can be used for game days. The library provides checkers, chess, legos, monoply ,etc and the kids get together to play. Free rooms can be used to provide like one day workshops. The workshops are something the children find useful, whether its making a craft, having a puppet show by someone who provides that or having someone on hand to teach children *net equitte* As far as a comprehensive list of what homeschoolers use, Rainbow Resource www.rainbowresource.com is probably the biggest and cheapest supplier of homeschooling curriculum. Homeschooling parents choose a variety of learning styles from the unschooling, classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Robinson method to hybrids of each. In addition, what is needed are more books to help the newbie in the beginning efforts of homeschooling. Cathy Duffy, Rebecca Rupp, Mary Pride, Diana Waring and any of the Cafi Cohen books on beginning hsing to hsing teenagers are all recognized and respected authors in the hsing community. Also, your bulletin board needs to contain fliers to direct new ones to the support groups to help them. Some libraries have special *story time* hours specifically for hsers because there are so many. Not all, but most hsers use the morning for school and the evening for family time. So a lot of activities at the library for hsers are done anywhere from 1 to 3. We don't like story time at 4:00 because it is for the public school kids and it puts us home too late for our family time. If the group is big enough, then it can support an additional time. I can help you find them quick, fast and in a hurry;-) Does this help?:grin:
