How much do homeschoolers use the library?

Question

I'm do a study, for a school project, of library use and homeschoolers. I'm especially interested in answers from homeschooled kids, but also from parents.

Here are some threads of thought about what I'm interested in, but anything related to libraries and homeschooling would be welcome!

* How often do you use the library?

* Do you use the library more for fun or for work?

* How does the library help you with your schooling?

* Do you have a favorite library? Why do you like that one? What does it have?

* Do you use the library's website? What do you do? Do you find it helpful?

* Do you go to any events at your library?

* Have you found libraries welcoming to homeschoolers?

* How can libraries be especially helpful to homeschoolers?

No need to answer all the questions... just contribute whatever you feel like in regards to my topic.

Thank you very much!

Answer 1

How often do you use the library?-

We are at the library about once a week, sometimes less. We tend to check out a wole bunch of books we pick in advance using the online cataloge.

Do you use the library more for fun or for work?- We use the library about 50/50 for fun and for school.

How does the library help you with your schooling? - Resources for further study and for reports.

Do you have a favorite library? Why do you like that one? What does it have?

We use the local library but its connected to the other ones in our county. It is just the most convenient.

Do you use the library's website? What do you do? Do you find it helpful? - Yes, to go ahead and order books ahead of time and they are usually ready for pick up in a couple of hours. It only takes a couple of days to request material from another library.

Do you go to any events at your library?- We used to when the kids where younger. Now we don't have time with all the other activities they are in.

Have you found libraries welcoming to home schoolers?- Yes, very! Most kids my daughter talks to who ask her what school she goes too, when she says she is home schooled they all say they wish they could be home schooled!

How can libraries be especially helpful to home schoolers?- Allowing us to use the meeting rooms has been awesome. Otherwise, nothing in particular that they don't normally do for anyone.

Answer 2

As a homeschooled student through high school, I used the library extensively. I got fun books out, but also lots of non-fiction and journal articles. Library journal subscriptions (both print and online) are great resources for highschool paper writing!

I also volunteered at the library, and organized events for younger students. The library I went to was very welcoming to homeschoolers and always tried to help out.

Answer 3

We're there about once each week.

Answer 4

We go at least once a week, it's on our schedule, but we usually wind up stopping by once more each week.

We use it for equal amounts of both, but since we're unschoolers, work is fun and fun is learning, so it's kind of a moot point.

Library helps by allowing us to read any book we want, any topic we could fathom. Not only can we access hundreds of thousands immediately, but we can request from other libraries, other systems, and request purchases of books that cannot be requested. We get all of our textbooks from the library, rather than paying hundreds for them, and our library also has dozens of files with unit studies from homeschoolers.

We always use our hometown library. It's convenient, because it's close. But we'd love it even if we had to drive. The librarians are SO friendly and go out of their way to help. The children's section has dozens of toys, train tables, blocks, puppets, anything that stimulates imaginative play, as well as all of their books being reachable by the youngest child. They have eight computers with just games, eight for catalog use, and a listening center. With so many young emergent readers, they ordered nearly a hundred hard back comic books to encourage reading. They always have the newest books, as well as authors, crafts, movie days, and the best story times. They have a separate teen section with comfy couches, aquariums, tons of stuff out for them to work on. And the reading room is amazing, again with comfy couches, coffee machines, magazines and newspapers. The computer room is cool, not only does it have 50 computers that they use to teach classes, but there are fifteen additional out in the general library for online use. And don't get me started on movies, we don't even USE blockbuster or netflicks anymore, because we can rent all the latest movies for free (well, for our tax dollars)

We do use the website. We use it to request books and I have all my books put on hold so that I don't *have* to go back into the adult section with young kids. I usually do pick up just one to help them learn how to be quiet and respectful, but on a bad day, I don't.  We can also read the calendar to see what's coming up and RSVP, and just recently they've added paypal so you can pay your fines online. WOohoo.

We go to craft days a few times a month, during the summer programs we're there several times a week for all of the programs, musicals, movies, etc. There are three 'clubs', one for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders, each week they alternate discussing a book that they've read, doing a craft, interviewing authors and painting the big picture windows in the kids section. The 6th, 7th and 8th have other things, I'm not sure, and under 3rd grade is a craft class. It's great for just something different to do.

Our library is VERY welcoming to homeschoolers. The kids librarians anyway are very good about knowing what books are in their realm of comfort, and can suggest ones to enjoy and ones that stretch them a little. They know the birthdays of all the kids, hundreds, I don't know how they do it, but it's a thrill to come in and hear happy birthday sung to you. Teens always come into the kids section to get hugs from the librarians, public school or homeschooled, that's how awesome they are. They started a book review, so the kids write their own reviews and they get put into a binder for other kids.

I think our library has done everything possible to fill the needs of all patrons, and for homeschoolers as well. I couldn't think of anything else that would be more helpful.

Answer 5

We go to library once a week and use the online catalog to reserve books from all the libraries in our county.  They send the material to our local library and we pick up at least once a week.

We use the library for both fun and work.

The library helps with schooling by supplying Audio/Visual material and books on subjects that we are studying.

Yes.  Favorite library is the one that is 10 minutes away.

Yes.  We use the library website and it is very helpful.

No.  We do not go to events at library.  We did when son was younger.  He remembers wearing the Clifford the Dog costume for some younger kids when he was 12.

Yes.  Our librarians are very fond of homeschoolers.  

The librarian was an encouragement to me when we started homeschooling.

Answer 6

* How often do you use the library? Weekly, at least.

* Do you use the library more for fun or for work? Well, our work (homeschooling) is fun. So both at the same time. We choose things from the library that are interesting, and I think it all contributes to a well-rounded education.

* How does the library help you with your schooling? For one thing, it saves us all the money we would spend purchasing books on so many different subjects. It gives us a launching pad for exploring related subjects as we browse the aisles. Attending events gives us the opportunity to learn from others, and to delve into subjects we might not have chosen on our own.

* Do you have a favorite library? Yes.

Why do you like that one? What does it have? It is convenient to our home and has a very large childrens' section with multiple media formats (books, audio, DVD)

* Do you use the library's website? What do you do? Do you find it helpful? Yes. We use the library's web site to renew books, and look up resources to reserve or request them. We also use the online resources, including Tumblebooks (books put into an online format for kids) and downloadable audiobooks.

* Do you go to any events at your library? Yes. We attend storytimes and many special events, particularly if there is a cultural or otherwise overt educational purpose. We ALWAYS go to the library's book sales, so that we can add to our own home library. We buy a lot of nonfiction books that others seem less interested in purchasing.

* Have you found libraries welcoming to homeschoolers? In most situations, yes. The librarians seem eager to help us find the resources we need. However, I've encountered a couple of individual librarians who seem "turned off" by us once they learn that we homeschool. I suppose each individual has their own reaction to the idea of homeschooling, and it's probably not related to their work as librarians.

* How can libraries be especially helpful to homeschoolers? Offer programs for homeschooled kids during regular school hours. We don't want to fight with the after-school crowds for a seat at storytime, and we are available all day long. Offer subject-based information sessions for homeschoolers. For example, take the topic of Ancient Egypt - hold a session for homeschooled families to show them the many resources you can offer for learning about Ancient Egypt.  Show books, DVDs, audio resources, web sites, etc. Remember that kids will be there with the parents for sessions like these. We are an eager crowd, who are there because we want to learn about these things, not because someone is forcing us to do it. Take advantage of that. Start a club that meets at the library to explore a series of subjects together. Include resources for multiple ages, since siblings will often learn together, but at different levels of difficulty. Show us books that you think are fabulous, and suggest them. We are always looking for more!

Answer 7

We love the library!  It's like a whole world of curriculum, all in one building :-)

A lot of my son's studies are lit based, and we have a library system that is very, very homeschool friendly.  Our librarians will often come to us when it's time to order books to see if we have any suggestions; they design daytime programming that helps to meet the needs of homeschoolers in various ways - teaching library and research skills, book clubs, art time, etc.; when they see that we're working on a various unit (by the sheer number of books we check out, lol) they will often suggest other books to go along that we might not have thought of; and the children's librarians are *always* happy to personally assist a student in getting what they need.

We're there about 1-3 times a week.

We use it for both - I'd say 70/30.  Part of the "fun" of going to the library for my son (10) is getting to hang out with the different children's librarians.  They're great at making time to talk with the kids about whatever's going on.

The library supplements our schooling in such a huge way.  For one thing, it saves us several hundred dollars every year in books that we'd otherwise have to buy, and the reference sources are always up to date.  We have over 30 libraries in our county system and can request books at any time from any of them.  It's also very kid friendly - it's set up almost in large "centers" for the different needs.  Younger kids can play and read picture books, older kids can read quietly or research, and the computers have kid-friendly firewalls on them, so my son can play or research to his heart's delight.

We do use our library's website to request and renew books and to get ideas for research and reading.

We go to book clubs, art days, special seasonal events, summer programming, and theater classes at our libraries.

We have hundreds, possibly over a thousand homeschool families in our area, and our libraries are very welcoming.  They also allow anyone to check out resources for up to 6 weeks, which is really important when working on an extended unit.

How can they be helpful...a lot of ways.  I've heard of some libraries where the librarians actually sit and stare at homeschool kids, waiting for them to act out.  It's a little disconcerting, especially due to the fact that everything's hunky dory once school lets out and kids from all schools are there.  I am so thankful for our librarians - my son even bakes them cookies and things as a thank you!  

They can also be helpful by being up to date on the resources (nonfiction) that are offered, especially in science and history, as this is where a lot of new homeschool parents run into trouble.  Often, we weren't educated using much else than textbooks, so when we try to offer our kids a literature-rich environment, we're often at a loss.  Knowing the various resources, as well as fiction offerings, on the various grade levels - and being willing to help steer hs parents in the right direction - is huge.

There are also things like a library subscription to sites like BrainPop and Cosmeo, if they're within the library's budget.  Larger libraries will often get private grants from businesses or people within the community, and these sites can be a huge help to all students - public, private, and homeschool.  Often a family won't be able to afford a subscription right at the moment, but will definitely make use of it at the library until they can.

Hope that helps!

Answer 8

We use the library about twice/month.  I look for books to supplement history/science.  My children find novels to use for reading time.

My favorite library so far is Blue Valley in Ks.  It was orderly. Meaning if you were at the library, you weren't just horsing around.  No loud talking or boisterous activity.  They had many good children's activities.  My favorite was the dewey decimal scavenger hunt.  Both my younger children learned how to locate books and it was fun.

Answer 9

We typically go at least once a week, often more than once a week.

We never work at the library. The kids might find books on things they want to learn about or anything they want to read, I might find books to include in our schooling, but we don't go there to work.

The library helps us by providing us books and videos we can use for reading and learning more about things; it's nice to have access to all that instead of having to buy it all and have it take up room in the house.

Yes, we have one library we like to visit most. It has the library organized by classics, adult fiction (which is organized by hardcover vs. soft cover, then mystery, romance and some other categories), other languages, music (which is then organized by type), a children's section (which has it's own non-fiction section, a picture book section, an easy reader section, a section with early chapter books, another section with more advanced novels, fantasy, arts and crafts, videos/DVDs, audio books and more. We like it because it's nice and big, open and has a wealth of stuff to choose from.

We use the library's online catalogue (through which we can request things to be sent to a specific branch if it's not available at our branch) and check our cards (what's on them, what's due, what requests are in) through the library's website.

I haven't found libraries treat homeschoolers and different than the rest of the population. All are welcome.

If you mean by this last question what they should do above and beyond what they already do, I don't see the need. If you mean just how are they helpful, this really isn't different than how the library helps with our schooling.

Answer 10

Hello,

I'm a homeschooling mom, and thought I'd answer some of your questions for you!

We use our library at least once a week, both for fun and for education. Our library is very helpful in helping us find what we are looking for and requesting items through inter-library loans (being sent from other libraries in the area if ours doesn't have it).

We love our local library - I would say it is our favorite. It has a children's wing, a teen room, and a large selection of both fiction and non. They also have a great selection of audio and mp3 books - we love to get those to listen to while we drive to our various homeschool activities.  They also have many computers for our use and wireless internet access.

Our library holds many events for children and adults. My daughter enjoys the craft events, and also went to the yearly library sleepover back in February. They had 45 children stay over, read, play, and have a lot of fun.

All the libraries we have used we've found to be exceptionally friendly to homeschoolers. Homeschoolers enjoy books, and so do librarians! Our library is very welcoming and helpful, and do a lot for us. A library is a wonderful resource for homeschoolers, and it helps defray curriculum costs, too!

I hope this helps!

Answer 11

I use the library 2 or 3 times a week on average.  

Work is fun for me and I have trouble drawing a line between the two and items checked out of the library.  Everything encourages learning.

The library has a vast array of book, magazine, videos, etc. that I could never afford to buy myself.  Any book that happens to catch the interest of any of us, we check out.  Some are read and reread cover to cover, some only a few pages.  But, we learn from them all!

I am fortunate to live within a mile of a large branch, and for geographical purposes it is my fav.  It has a large collection and there is no problem ordering from all over the county.  They also do inter-library loan for less common items.

I use the library website at least weekly.  I order items, renew items and check my list of what I have checked out and what I ordered, if anything is ready to pick up.  

I have gone to events at the library.  Sometimes historical presentations, and some classes.

My library is great for homeschoolers.  We get a special card and have no late fees.  Guess they think we need more time ;)

Getting subscriptions to homeschool magazines is helpful.  Allowing groups to meet at the library.  And keeping a great collection of books, etc.  I also appreciate the lack of censorship!  

Libraries are wonderful!

Answer 12

*How often do you use the library?

>> 2-3 times a week

* Do you use the library more for fun or for work?

>> Equal amount for both

* How does the library help you with your schooling?

>> Books, CD's, CD-roms, DVD's to tie into lessons

* Do you have a favorite library? Why do you like that one?

What does it have?

>> We only have one choice here.  In our former city, we had one main library w/ 9 branches.  We preferred the branch closest to our house because it was new, had a dedicated children's area, and had a covered, drive-up service window.  I'd place holds online from the house and pick them up through the drive through - especially handy since I have a disabled daughter.

* Do you use the library's website? What do you do? Do you find it helpful?

>> We place all holds from home via the online catalog.  We also view new DVD's and books on the site and put them on hold before they're even in circulation.  That way we're pretty high up in the queue line.  It is absolutely helpful.

* Do you go to any events at your library?

>>  Yes, all the time.  My son's HS Math Olympiad team and HS Chess Club meets there.  Ours has a special HS book club.  We also participate in the summer reading program.  

* Have you found libraries welcoming to homeschoolers?

>>  Absolutely!  They love us!  :-)  They see the high-quality books our children check out.  They are willing to help us out a lot.  One of our librarians is even a HS mom herself.  They also love HS'ing kids b/c they follow the behavior rules in the library.

* How can libraries be especially helpful to homeschoolers?

>>  Offer a "Homeschool Info" folder/area.

> Stock more HS curricula.

> Have access to Brain Pop, Rosetta Stone, and other subscription-based online programs.

> Allow us to meet there (meeting rooms) w/o charge.

> Have Dewey Decimal and library research programs for HS'ed kids.

> Have a special "school year" reading program for HS'ed kids.

> Have computer training classes for HS'ers.

> Have special check-out procedures for curricula.

> Sponsor book clubs for all ages.  Ones geared to award-winning, or classic books are especially helpful.

Best wishes for your project!

Answer 13

Our local Library is a wonderful resource.  We are there at least once per week, sometimes more.  

They often have excellent documentaries and Educational DVDs like those from Discovery Channel.  It sure saves a lot of money!

My daughter attends a monthly book reading club at the library too.  It was arranged by our local homeschool support group.  The teens meet with the librarian to discuss the books that they have chosen and read for the previous month.  She loves it!

Answer 14

We don't go to the Library as often as we did before we had access to the Internet, but we still go at least once or twice a month. It's a great place to find information that I don't have or that I have no personal interest in, like my son's interest in Video game design. We also use it to pick up books on the GED or SAT tests that we'd only use once but are very expensive.

Our Library system here makes it very easy to request a book from a sister library in the same area if you use the website. (I just used it last night to request a novel I've been looking for but I've used it for movies and books that even the library only has a few copies of, usually autobiographies.)

Having the Internet available to so many families is reducing the use of Libraries in some cases but nothing beats wandering the stacks of a decent library just looking for something new or useful to catch your eye. My last trip I found a book of Tibetan Folk tales that I've been reading to my daughter as bedtime stories. I never would have thought to look for them and she just loves them.

Answer 15

i never go to the library