The ONLY Thing You Need for Homeschooling {and it’s FREE!}

I am a firm believer that the only true homeschooling must-have is a library card. Our public library, and its amazing librarians, have been instrumental in our homeschooling journey. I don’t know what I would do without our at-least-weekly visits!

So many people tell me that they know they should go to the library more than they do. They worry about their children staying quiet in the library. They are concerned about lost books and library fines. They feel that Amazon is easier. I truly believe that the only thing you NEED for homeschooling is a library card.

Benefits of the Library:

It’s FREE

My friends will tell you that I’m not a shopper.  We live near outlets and I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve been there. I cannot tell you the last time I went to the mall. I do not enjoy shopping. When I have to do it, I’m in and out in record time. Unless that shopping is in a book store. Then, watch out folks! If you are a family of bookworms, it’s easy to spend too much on books. This can be avoided with a little bit of planning and organization… and your local library. 

Connection with Your Community

Public libraries provide a wonderful way to connect with your community. Pop into your local library and check out their events schedule and community calendar. From music classes to story times to clubs to lectures to art shows to volunteer opportunities- libraries contain so much more than books and shelves. 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Library:

If you are used to buying books online, it can be difficult to make the switch to your local library. I promise you, with a little planning and organization, your library can transform your homeschool and help your wallet!

Schedule library days

We go to the library at least twice a week, but when you are just starting out pick one day and go to the library on that day every single week. Getting into a routine will help you to get to know your library better and to feel more comfortable. So, put library day in your planner and follow through. You’ll thank yourself later!

If you have time, research a bit

I am a huge believer in following your child’s lead, but sometimes it helps to have a bit of a game plan. If your library is lacking books that you want or need, plan ahead and request an inter-library loan.

Allow your child freedom to choose…

In our family, each child has his or her own library tote bag. It’s a simple canvas bag that the children decorated with fabric markers and paint. They love to go to the children’s room and fill their totes. I let them fill their totes with as many books as they can carry out.

…but also follow a plan

If you are homeschooling, it is important to give your child freedom and plan a little bit, too. Leo has a laminated library check list that I have attached to his tote bag. The checklist includes the following:

– Audiobook

– Biography/Autobiography

– Fiction

– How-To/Informational

– Nonfiction

– Poetry, Art, and/or Music

In addition to filling his tote with books he is interested in, Leo also includes items on his checklist. This helps us to have some variety in our reading, and we often discover new favorites!

As the children fill their totes, I select titles that I know they will like based on their current interests. I either search interests for books I think they will adore, or I find titles that I previously saved in my Goodreads account. Later, when we are home, I strew these titles around the house and they never fail to read and learn!

Once my children have filled their totes, and if they have used their library voices and behaved in a respectful manner during our visit, we head to the movie section and choose a title or two and then play on the library’s playground if weather permits. This routine of ours encourages appropriate behavior while in the library.

Stay organized to avoid loss and fines

So many homeschoolers avoid the library due to library fines. To avoid lost books and hefty library fines, have a plan. When you check-out library books, use only one library card (unless, of course, your library has strict book limits). Our library sends e-mail reminders three days before books come due. If yours does not do this, write a note on your calendar or set a reminder in your phone. Scan bar codes into your Goodreads account so that you can double-check to see if you are missing any books.

When you are home, have a spot for you library books. This is one of the reasons why each of my children have a library tote. They keep the tote bag in their bedroom and, when they have finished reading a library book, it goes back in the tote. Of course, some library books get lost in the bed sheets or under the bed, but for the most part we always know where our books are!

Explore other resources

Your public library houses so much more than shelves of books. Why not take an afternoon and explore the library with your children? Try to see who can find the most resources! Meet your librarians- they are such important community members, especially to homeschooling families! Many libraries include the following resources:

Movies

Music

Magazines and Periodicals

Puzzles

Games

e-Readers

Maps

Museum Passes

Community events

Art events

Lectures

Geneology resources

Foreign language resources

Get Your Kids Excited about the Library:

If your family is new to the public library, get your children excited about it by reading some fantastic library-related books. Here are some of my children’s favorites:

Library Posts from My Little Poppies:

Here are some of our most popular library-related posts. Also, be sure to check out our {Virtual} Family Book Club, in addition to our The Books the Fill Our Shelves series if you are looking for book ideas!

Library Posts from Around the Web:

Here are some amazing library-related links from around the web to give you more ideas.

Children’s Books About the Library ~ Starts at Eight

Forgetting to Place Your Library Holds?? ~ Classically Homeschooling

How to Add Variety to Your Child’s Reading ~ Cornerstone Confessions

How to Manage Your Library Books ~ Book Shark

How to Save Money by Using a Library ~ Megan Zechman for Education Possible

Library Scavenger Hunt ~ Our Journey Westward

Library Tips for Homeschooling Families ~ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

Lovin’ the Library ~ Forever For Always, No Matter What

Make a Shelf Marker for the Library ~ Adventures in Mommydom

Managing Library Books: Tips for Large Families ~ Aspired Living

My Library Has What? ~ Cornerstone Confessions

Take a Tour of Your Library ~ Forever For Always, No Matter What

The Guide to Summer Reading Programs ~ Aspired Living

What Can You Find at the Library? ~ Blessed Beyond a Doubt

When to Borrow, When to Buy Books for Your Homeschool ~ Heather Haupt for Free Homeschool Deals

Why We Ditched Storytime (And Why We Went Back) ~ Living, Unabridged

Your Local Public Library ~ Curriculum Choice

Now, it’s your turn. Tell me… how do you homeschool on a shoe string? What is your favorite free or affordable resource? How do you make use of your local library? Share here. I love hearing from you!

This post has been part of the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum September 2015 Blog Hop: Parenting Gifted/2E Kids on a Shoestring. Please click the image below to keep on hoppin’!