Does Your Library Have Any Perks For Homeschoolers?

Does Your Library Have Any Perks For Homeschoolers?

 

Nothing specifically for homeschoolers no, but they have several great programs that are super beneficial to homeschoolers. They have story time for little ones and then they do science clubs, puppet shows, crafts, music and dance, clay projects, they also have a summer reading program with rewards for the kids. And they have workshops for parents many of which are helpful for homeschooling parents, but nothing is specifically for homeschoolers.

 

I would also add that our library has a nature preserve directly behind it which is great for learning about pond life, fish, ducks, geese, arizona plants, and many other things.

 

As far as I know, just the recent application (I think it was a law or regulation of some sort passed recently) that homeschoolers can get group cards - which basically means that when we check out a book, we can keep it for the maximum amount of time without renewing it in-between.

Usually when you check out a book, it's for 3 weeks. You can renew it for another 3 weeks. Group card holders automatically get it for 6 weeks, but can't renew at the end of that 6 weeks. (And media doesn't get extended; that's still a week. And there's no discount on late fees! :lol: )

 

Our library offers special "classes" for homeschool families to find out in detail about all of the resources that may be particularly useful to homeschoolers.

I've been a constant patron of our library for many years and thought I had a very good working knowledge of all that was available - but my eyes were opened to resources that I had never imagined!

 

No, but the librarians know my kids by name! They are WONDERFUL in ALL ways! I have no doubt that, if someone would decide I was guilty of educational neglect, they would come to my defense and testify about all the time I spend there, etc.

One thing I do quite often is have them get books out on Inter Library Loan. If anyone doesn't know, this means getting a book from a different system, perhaps even states away. Policy for this is different for each library system; some charge, some limit the number of ILL's you can have a year. But I've gotten several "out of print" books this way. Currently, we're reading a Landmark book on the Lewis and Clark expedition that comes from the Manchester College Library in Indiana.

 

Our library issues a teacher card to homeschooling parents. Same kind of thing as DaLynn - extended check out - no renewal.

 

Our local library does not but our library system does. They have subject kits which are pretty much unit studies that you can take out. I actually have one on reading that has guided cds and a book of reproducible worksheets to help dd improve her reading. They have these kits for different ages and across almost all subjects. I plan on getting some science and maybe history ones out this summer. I just request them on line and it cost me .50 to have it sent to my local library so I do not have to drive to get them.

 

No, nothing. I'm going to have to have a talk with them!

 

Ours has nothing specifially for hs'ers but they have a ton of kids programs. Grace used to go to story time but she lost interest recently. Next fall she will go to their art class once a month. Samantha is in a tween program that meets once a month. There are other things there too but that's all we do.

 

our library doesn't do anything special for homeschoolers. Now I also live in a town where I only know of 3 other families who homeschool. Yet none of us get together to do anything.

Now the librarian we have works with me all the time. She is right now trying to get the library system to buy SOTW books, and the books to go along with it. She said this way I won't have to buy as much. So, for being a very small library with not too many resources they really do work with me.

 

Nothing special but our library system ROCKS!!

No late fees..... 2 week check out on everything..... renew online...... Rosetta Stone FREE online.... and tons of resources including homework help online (free!) etc.

It's an amazing library system and I love them to death! They work so well with my kids.

 

Yes, homeschool helpers and bookclubs. We can renue items online, educational products can be checked out for 30 days, you can renue items 3x's, lots of programs and things to do; chess, games, movies, story times, special events, midnight parties to celebrate new books that come out, family nights, etc etc etc. Our library is HUGE.

A big bummer is that our library just changed their policy and each person is only allowed to put 4 things on hold at one time!!! I used to use it all the time. I sometimes would have 30 things on hold. I always pick my items up, always return on time, etc. I hate the new policy. :evil:

I believe it is because their were people who would put items on hold, the library empolyees would do the work of finding the item and putting it on the shelf with the persons name, and then that person would never pick their items up. Making it a waste of time for the employees who now have to return the items to the shelves.

Our library also stopped the inter-library loan, which was nice. They said they didn't have the funds for it any longer.

 

We have the same. We do take advantage of the interlibrary loan department and have found books that our libraries do not have.

 

Our Library has a special "institution card" that they allow us to use, we do not pay late fees and can check out up to 100 books at a time! The Videos still have to go back on normal time but there is no fee if they are late! Wee!

 

That's what *WE* need. We won't talk about the most recent letter we received.... :shock:

 

I was actually just there today asking about story time, and if they do some sort of summer reading program with a prize at the end if you complete. (My library as a kid had one, so that's why I was asking.) Anyway, my DD spoke up while I was talking with the librarian and said, "I don't go to school anymore." I added my little, "We homeschool now." The librarian is all like, "Well, then you'll have to come to our homeschoolers activities!" I NEVER even thought to ask about stuff like that! My DD usually never says anything about being taken out of school to strangers, but today she spoke up about it to the right person! :lol: They do it once a month on a Wednesday at 2:30 from Sept to April. And, also have some extra kind of workshop thing for the homeschooled kids.

They do also have the story time for preschoolers and a summer reading program too! There will be some activities as well during the summer for all kids no matter how they're educated.

 

We are allowed teacher cards, but the librarian advised me not to get one-something about not being able to place things on hold, I think? We do, however, have a wonderful children's librarian, who homeschools. She has planned lots of activities for homeschoolers. This year we took advantage of a tween book club and art classes. Next year we plan to add a science class (Apologia) and possibly a history class to those.

 

We get an educator's card, which lets us get educational books, videos, magazines, Cds, etc, free from the sales shelves. We can kep checkouts for 6 weeks.

 

wow I need to take these responds to our library and show them what everyone else does. Maybe they will changes