When it comes to homeschooling, opinions about resources vary widely across the spectrum. The homeschooling community is quick to offer their opinions on everything, from the best curriculum and online learning programs to school supplies and even virtual field trips. But one thing all homeschooling parents agree on is that the library is an ultimate resource for any homeschooling family! If you already homeschool, chances are you have already visited your library a time or two. But if you haven’t, or haven’t been in a while, here’s a list of how you can use your public library for homeschooling!
1. Supplement your curriculum.
Perhaps the number one reason most homeschooling families use the library is to supplement their curriculum. So, maybe this isn’t exactly new. But what is new are the every-changing types of resources that libraries seem to be adding to their already huge collection of books! Libraries are more like learning centers now, and they offer a wide variety of different learning materials. They include:
- Magazines, journals, and periodicals
- CDs and DVDs
- Learning and maker kits (here’s an example of some kits from Liberty Library in Liberty, ME)
- Tablets (yes, you can even check them out and take them home)
- Software Programs, such as the popular foreign language learning program Rosetta Stone
- Newspapers
- Board Games, video games, and Puzzles
- Legos and other learning toys
- Maps and Atlases
- Computers, laptops, and related peripheral devices
- Online databases that allow uses access to hundreds of online periodicals and journals
- Subscription and member access to educational videos or paid educational websites
- Online interactive games and media
- eBooks and audiobooks
- Reference materials, both print and digital
The best thing is that all of this is free! Yep, no cost to you, except for maybe the gas it took you to get to the library and the cost of your time. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not much. With such a wide variety of resources at the library, you are sure to engage all your homeschoolers, no matter their preferred learning style.
2. Build group projects into your homeschool.
Most libraries have a dedicated day and/or time for homeschooling families. Use this time to your advantage! With a little planning and assistance from the librarian, you can turn this time and space into a group project for your child and a few other homeschooling peers. Perhaps you can coordinate an SAT study group for older students using free materials from the library (of course!). Maybe you could put together a paper-folding art project for middle-schoolers (I’m sure library has plenty of books on this topic; just bring paper or old magazines). Have young kids? What about a coloring hour focusing on shapes, numbers, or letters? I bet they would enjoy coloring and socializing with other children their age!
Most homeschoolers would embrace the opportunity to work with other same-age peers, even if it involves doing some “homework” and learning. The library provides the perfect place to keep kids focused while giving them a chance to work on social skills at the same time!
3. Make reading fun again.
My husband and I read to our 4 kids faithfully every night before bedtime. We noticed that even though we have well over a hundred books in our home library, the kids were getting bored with the books. Who could blame them? We’ve read them all at least ten times each! We were getting bored! My kids were starting to lose interest in bedtime reading and it was becoming a struggle. So, I checked out some books from my library based on their individual interests and surprised them one night with the “new” books. Viola! The excitement was back again! Now, it’s a new story (or chapter for my oldest) almost every night, and the kids look forward to reading before bedtime again.
Now that we have “new” books every 2 weeks or so, my kids are more engaged in reading at night. The stories are more appropriate and on-level, and we don’t experience the bedtime reading blahs anymore. The books are practically never-ending, they are free, and my kids have a renewed interest in reading. Everyone wins!
4. Look for volunteer opportunities for teens.
Using your library for homeschooling goes beyond just checking out reading materials and media! Many libraries, mine included, offer volunteer programs to teens. Teens involved with these programs learn to shelve books, tutor younger students, plan youth programs, or help to lead programs for younger students. If your homeschooled teen is looking for ways to make his or her college application stand out, see if your library offers volunteer programs and get your teen involved. Volunteering is a great way for teens to build work skills and self-confidence as they prepare to become young adults. A library is an excellent and safe place to start!
5. Find new friends.
Most libraries offer children and teen programs, though they vary in nature and structure. Some are offered weekly or just occasionally or for special holidays or events. However, these programs provide excellent socialization opportunities for your children in a safe, responsible environment. If you haven’t looked into it already, check to see what programs your library offers and then attend one! Your child or teen may find a program he or she enjoys attending. And chances are, he or she will make some friends along the way. As an added bonus, you may meet some friends yourself! Remember that if you have access to more than one library, you may want to check out programs of various libraries to find a good fit for you and your children.
6. Use the library as a reward or incentive.
My oldest daughter absolutely adores going to the library. She is an avid reader (she goes to bed with about 6 books every night) and loves everything the library has to offer. The problem? We hardly ever get to go because her 2-year old twin brothers are terrors in the library! They tear every book off the shelf, rip the mice from the computers, pull decorations from the shelves, spin recklessly in the chairs, etc. You get the idea! I can hardly help my little girl choose age-appropriate books on topics that will interest her because I’m too busy chasing my twins around the library.
So how do we get our books? Well, when my husband is available to watch the 3 boys (usually on Saturday), I take my little girl to the library. Only if she has earned it throughout the week, though. She must do her chores, be overall respectful and well-behaved, and do well in homeschool that week in order to earn a trip to the library (I don’t do behavior charts). It’s one of her favorite rewards, just she and I in the library. We always leave with plenty of books and smiles on our faces. The library truly is a magical place!
7. Use the library to escape.
You might not be able to use the library for relaxation if you have 2-year old twins with you. But I look at my library so often and think how wonderful it would be to just curl up with a book and read! I’ve been to my fair share of libraries, and they all usually have very calm, quiet reading spaces. The one at the university I attended had couches and chairs under a large glass-arboretum type structure, complete with a relaxing fountain in the middle. The library we currently use has a teen area with a couch, chairs, bean bags, a TV, and even a video game console. Adults can read in one of the many areas provided with a nice leather couch as they drink their coffee. Or they can even relax in a massaging chair while they read their books.
If things are hectic at home, try going to the library for a bit and just relax. This is a great way for the homeschooling mom to get a break (here are some other ideas) or for teens to find calm in an otherwise chaotic world.
8. Replace your home library.
Well, maybe not all of it. We keep some books on hand just because we could need them at any minute (cookbooks, how-to-fix-things books, etc). But, to be honest, I don’t plan on buying many books for my little girl anytime soon.
First of all, I’m not real familiar with young children’s fiction. It wasn’t until I checked out a copy of Junie B. Jones that I decided we would not be reading Junie B. Jones in this house. Sorry….I just don’t think every other word out of a kindergartner’s mouth should be stupid. But I digress…..Anyway, I’m really glad I didn’t spend money on the book. Same thing with another series called Mercy Watson. It was cute, but my daughter was way past it. Once again, I’m glad I didn’t spend the money on it. It’s so hard to get a real preview of a book online, and who has time to go shopping in an actual bookstore? So, the library saved the day!
Secondly, my daughter is at the age where she wants to read girly books now. Rest assured, her 3 younger brothers will not want to read Barbie books. So, I’ll check them out for her at the library. I don’t see a need in spending money on books if all four of my kids won’t benefit from them!
Finally, how many times have you finished a book and then read it again? Yeah, exactly. When my children were babies, we read Goodnight Moon until the cover fell off. But now that they are older, they want new stories, new adventures, new excitement! So, “new” books from the library it is! I refuse to spend money on a book that we will read once, maybe twice, and then it will sit on our bookshelf until the next garage sale.
Using the Library for Homeschooling
As you can see, the library offers so much more than comes to mind! If you homeschool, adding the library to your treasure of educational activities can greatly enhance your children’s educational and socialization opportunities. By using the library for homeschooling, you have so much more access to materials and personnel than you would probably have access to in your home classroom. The library is a cost-effective way to expose your children to a multitude of subjects, increase their engagement in reading, or find them extra help in content in which they may be struggling.
So where should you start? Check out the website of your local library first. That should contain at least the basic information you need in order to get started. Check out the hours and days of operation. See if they offer a special time for homeschooling families (I bet they do!). Look through their programs and special events, and a calendar if they have one posted. They may even have an online catalog so you can search for books and resources ahead of time. You may even want to call and speak to the librarian to find out what other services they can offer. I’ve never met a librarian who wasn’t willing to help!
Best wishes for incorporating the library into your homeschooling journey! I hope the above ideas help you take this great resource to the next level of learning!