When you think about resources for homeschooling, where do your thoughts automatically go? If you’re like me, you’ll likely think about digital resources. When I first started homeschooling, I picked up my phone and Googled everything, then searched out Facebook groups to find my tribe. It’s a digital age and it’s only natural to resort to the internet. But did you know that you can find resources closer to home? There are so many things homeschoolers can do at the library. I’m going to share a few and ask Miss Michelle, our favorite children’s librarian, to share her favorites as well.

Check Out Books

Okay… this one seems more than a little obvious, but it’s also important since most of us have never homeschooled before. Homeschoolers can check out books from the library. There are plenty of children’s books, but those aren’t the only books available.

We weren’t taught “how to homeschool” when we were in school, and it doesn’t always come naturally. Luckily there are a plethora of books on the subject. You want to learn about unschooling? There’s a book for that. You want to learn about Charlotte Mason? There’s a book for that. You want to learn about getting started, homeschooling in less time, or what your kids should be learning each year? There’s a book for that, that, and that. Oftentimes, your local library will have these books, will be able to request them from sister libraries, or will order books for you.

A few weeks ago, I went to the library and saw picture books about the first day of school. My daughter is excited to learn, so I looked and they were all about the first day of… public school. The librarian checked and didn’t see any homeschooling picture books in the system but told me that if I shared some titles with her, they could order them. A week or two later, we were back at the library and I saw another librarian logging in their new homeschooling picture books. They had already ordered and received them based on my suggestion! (I really, really recommend My Schoolhouse Rocks!) The librarians try to ensure the library has books for everyone, including homeschoolers. And don’t forget ebooks! Many homeschooling books can be found digitally in your library app.

Research

When you head to the library, you can find “how to” guides, “everything” books, encyclopedias and other research materials. In elementary school, I remember that I had to write a state report (Alaska!) and a country report (Uzbekistan… I still have no idea why I chose that country aside from proving I could spell the name). When the teacher assigned the reports, she brought us to the school library and the librarian taught us how to use the various books to research our topics.

A public library has even more resources than an elementary school library. I’m sure that kids these days do a lot more research online than in books, but I think, at minimum, books are better for finding topics. When you Google a topic, you usually just find information on that topic. At the library, you can browse the shelves to be exposed to more things related to, or completely separate from, the original research topic.

Curriculum and Unit Studies

Although you probably won’t find an actual curriculum, you may find some workbooks at the library. You can make copies of the pages for your child to use or draw some parts into a notebook/ lapbook. I found many of the 180 Days series at our local library or in the Libby ebook app. You may find books to help you teach your child to read, or the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Project.

One fun idea is to choose a topic to study with your child and create a unit study. My daughter would likely pick unicorns. We can find some picture books (reading), find books about horses to learn about them and see how they compare (science and math), and make a unicorn crown (your library may have craft supplies available). Books like Unicorn (and Horse) and Dear Unicorn are great for social and emotional learning. Add in making unicorn cupcakes (add sprinkles to the batter and frosting, and try to decorate like a unicorn) and you’ve got math and home ec!

Programming

Most libraries have tons of programming. From storytime and Lego club, to knitting circles and writing groups. Our local library just started a weekly get together for homeschoolers. We went to the first meetup and it was great. The new director shared about all of the library resources, and then showed us what was in drawers and behind doors that we were welcome to use as long as we cleaned up after ourselves. There were tons of toys – instruments, vehicles, and more – and craft supplies.

The program itself was fun, too. She had arranged for a wildlife specialist to come in and teach the kids. They learned about animal tracks, nests, scat, and bones. She took the kids outside to look for animal tracks and let them each take a shell and a feather home. There were several crafts, games, and activities available after the lesson. My kindergartener daughter loved it and spent more time out of her seat than in it. My toddler son enjoyed crawling on the rug and pointing out the letters of the alphabet and the numbers he recognized.

The library director arranged another program for October, and said we can also bring programming in, but if we ask the library to arrange it, they can handle compensation. I really love how welcoming she was and how much she wants us to make the library our own. When my son got upset, she went back upstairs and grabbed him a few of the toys he usually plays with in the children’s room (so I wouldn’t have to drag both kids up to get them). She also stayed for the program and had her homeschooled child with her.

Hey Miss Michelle – What Did I Forget to Mention?

There are a lot of ways your library can support you in your homeschool journey… but they may not know it. That’s where you come in. If a library doesn’t know that there are families doing homeschooling in their service area, they may not offer anything outside of the usual – books and other resources, and general programs. But if we are aware of a need, we like to help out. Like Kristen mentioned above, if she suggests a programmer to her library they can likely pay for them to come. You can also suggest events that don’t require payment. Here are some ideas.

School portraits. Every year, kids in public schools get their photos taken so their parents can send them to friends and family. (Well, these days I pay about $20 for the digital rights to put the pictures on Facebook, and to print them myself if I choose.) If there are a bunch of homeschoolers in your area, you could ask to use a room in the library to take school photos. Or you can take photos in front of the bookshelves. You can hire a professional photographer (which I’m sorry, but I doubt the library will pay for that), or just choose someone with a steady hand and a good camera on their phone.

Entrepreneur Holiday Fair. A friend of mine at another branch of my library actually held a Homeschool Entrepreneur Holiday Fair a couple of years ago, where homeschooled kids could bring in and sell handmade items, crafts and artwork, and baked goods. The program was held in November, but I could see having it in December too. Or skip the holiday aspect and hold it whenever you want to.

Homeschool Art Show. I remember art hanging in the halls of my elementary school, and the annual art show for Youth Art Month. But that was just for kids in public schools. Your local library might be willing to display art made by local homeschoolers for a week, a few weeks, or a month, provided the art is all picked up when the display time is over. Make sure you and your homeschooler take the time to look at and appreciate the work done by other kids too. Your child may even get excited about something they see and want to do it themself!

Your imagination is the only limit you have. Think about things you remember from school, or that you or your child see at schools in movies or television shows or even YouTube videos. Maybe it seems like something that can only happen in public schools, but you can probably make it work for you. If your library can help you achieve something, ask for help. If you’re not sure – reach out anyway, because odds are your librarian would love to help you figure it out. We want you to succeed, and if we can be a part of that it’s even better.

Thanks Miss Michelle!

Thank you for joining us today in our homeschool!

Miss Michelle shares her book recommendations each month on the In Our Homeschool blog. Find links to all of her posts here.