Homeschool Resource Center
From a professional standpoint, I am inspired by homeschoolers’ use of the public library. The depth and breadth of their interaction with the library make them valuable patrons. I am motivated to find ways to make home educators’ experiences at the library even more fulfilling.
From my experience with the homeschool community, I have learned that a large part of home educating is nurturing life-long learning. Home educating parents do not know everything. Instead, they try to teach their children how to look things up and find out things for themselves. I had the privilege of hearing Professor Michael Stephens speak--live and in person--at the recent Connecticut Library Association conference. His descriptions of the library as a place where we learn how to learn, the people’s university, and a greenhouse of imagination dovetail with the vision of home education as a lifestyle.
In addition, Jesse Sevier of Wyoming State Library makes a prescient statement in his presentation on 3D printers in the library. He mentions that public schools might own 3D printers, but homeschoolers--among other members of the community--would not have access to the school’s equipment. He points out that the public library can be the place where homeschoolers can access useful, advanced technology such as the 3D printer.
As a result of my interview with one homeschooling mother, we arranged a field trip for homeschoolers to the library where I am employed. We will show them how to use the catalog, show them around the building, show them our unique natural history/mounted butterfly collection, and do a scavenger hunt.
This event can open the door to many things. For one, more events like it, so that additional families learn about our library. It will also give us contacts in the home education community. I hope to ask them a few questions about their library use, and then really listen. A couple of things I would like to know are, how many books they check out each time they visit the library and how long they generally need the books. Perhaps our circulation policy can be adjusted for homeschoolers. Currently we have a maximum of five books per card. Our books circulate for three weeks. It is possible to note in their records which families are home educators. Then we can increase their book limit and perhaps their loan time as well.
I would also like to assemble resources for homeschoolers such as: Legal guidelines, support groups on the local, state and national levels, research-based homeschool information, how-to information, an easy explanation of how to find topical books in our children’s non-fiction collection. Most of these can be links on our website. We can have a “Homeschooling” section on our sidebar menu with links to organizations, databases and websites that provide information that homeschoolers want.
I discovered several public libraries that cater to home educators. These libraries’ programs will serve as long-term inspiration for me as I help my public library to serve the homeschooling information community.
Johnsburg Public Library District, Illinois http://www.johnsburglibrary.org/content/homeschool-resource-center
Homeschool Resource Center at Johnsburg Public Library
DeKalb County Public Library, Georgia
Keene Public Library, New Hampshire
References
Wyoming State Library [wyomingstatelibrary]. (2013, October 13). 3D printing and libraries [video file]. Retrieved fromhttp://youtu.be/FtoZVqTXp_4
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