Many parents chose to opt out of traditional schooling for their children and instead, homeschool them. As monuments to knowledge and resources, libraries must be able to identify the unique needs of homeschool families, work to meet those needs, and effectively communicate with other public resources that may also assist homeschoolers. Libraries are the tether that keep homeschooled kids and parents connected to the resources they need for success.
One of the many challenges to homeschooling is that the children being to associate the home environment with school work. Not only is the home supposed to be where families come together, relax, sleep, and eat, but it is now also a “schoolhouse” with rules, obligations, assignments, due dates, and specific expectations both from their parent-teachers and the school district officials who oversee the curriculum. Homeschooled children benefit enormously from excursions. For many homeschoolers, the public library is where it’s at for reading books, digital media, and nonfiction titles. “When homeschoolers were asked about their primary source of books and/or curriculum, 78 percent named their public library” (Shinn, 2008). That is why public libraries need to assess the needs of this growing demographic of scholars and their parents.
In general, there are three aspects to the public library that are most important to homeschool families: access, events, choice.
Access: Homeschooled children are simply students who do not attend school. Parents are in the position to weigh the pros and cons of homeschooling vs. school. Homeschooling may lead to a lack of access to the information resources a school or school library would supply, like Ebsco. Online and physical resources from the public library supplement and enhance what is being taught at home.
Events: Public libraries often receive funding to put on educational, fun, and most importantly, FREE events geared toward children. Homeschooling parents will be drawn to events put on at the local public library. It must be quite the challenge to parent and teach your own children every day. Mom and Dad deserve a nice break from those dual roles.
Choice: Public libraries offer the choice of space, freedom of movement within the library, and flexible hours of operation, all of which are appealing to students who are learning outside the traditional timesheet of school.
For more resources about libraries and homeschooling:
Shinn, Lora. "A Home Away From Home." School Library Journal 54.8 (2008): 38-42. Academic Search Premier. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
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