Libraries are an important part of any school. Homeschooling is no different. Home educators use their local libraries, and in some areas have access to the school’s library. Check with your state's education department for rules and regulations. While libraries are very important in education, there have been some problems between librarians and homeschool families. These problems can easily be rectified.
Leaving Children Unattended
One of the biggest complaints by librarians is that children are left unattended in the library, leaving them to feel like unpaid baby sitters. Home educators should keep this in mind when they are visiting the library. Do not leave your children unattended for long periods. Librarians recommend that monitoring your children even in the children’s area will make them feel less like you are relying on them for supervision. It is understandable if you are gathering books and supplies for your child, but a better way is to take them with you.
Showing your child which books are good is a great way to teach them also. Simply telling them no on a book is not a good learning experience. Try explaining why they cannot have the book, i.e., it has too many words or it is not something they will enjoy, is better than a simple no. By taking your children with you when you are picking out the books and supplies you are not relying on the librarian for supervision and you are teaching them good books and good reading habits.
Requesting Research Material
Another complaint stems from the fact that home educators want lots of material, yesterday. Remember that the librarians will work with you to get the material that you need, but it takes time. Demanding large amounts of research material and making them feel like they need to have it yesterday will not endear the librarians to you.
A better way is to plan your lessons out and ask the librarian for advice on getting the needed material. How long will it take? How hard it will be to get the necessary materials? If it seems like it is going to be a problem, you might consider another project or another source for the material. Many good online libraries cater specifically to home education.
Be Courteous When Renting
Homeschool families are known to wipe out large amounts of material, leaving nothing for other families. When it comes to renting books, try to avoid taking all the books on a particular subject. If your family is researching something, rent two or three books on the subject go over them, return them, and then rent more.
Being courteous to the other patrons of the library can go a long ways. Since research has shown that families who educate at home have a tendency to spend a lot of time at the library, it seems reasonable that they would be able to use research material sparingly. However, if it hasn’t been brought to your attention that your borrowing practices are discourteous then perhaps you don’t know.
Censorship
Librarians have been complaining that homeschool groups get together and complain about material in the public library. Home educators need to remember that the library is a public place and there will be material that they might find objectionable. For the most part, though, the library does not carry anything that is outright inappropriate, and therefore, it is not a good idea to petition the city for items to be removed.
If you disagree with certain material, it is better to tell your child that they are not allowed to read said material than to request the library not carry it. In some extreme cases, this has to do with science books that cover evolution. While some Christian homeschooling families disagree with evolution, it is still not appropriate to request the libraries not carry the items.
A better idea could be to invest in a private library. Perhaps, if the homeschooling group is big enough they can all contribute books to their own homeschool library that is housed at one of the family's homes. That, or they could request help from a local church. Some churches have smaller libraries, and with donations of books they would probably be happy to expand.
Personal Attention
Other complaints from librarians center on the amount of personal attention that homeschool families are requesting. The groups need to remember that the librarians are there for everyone and that their time should not be monopolized. Most libraries provide patrons with computers to look up books and have excellent reference sections. Rather than relying on librarians to find the necessary materials, familiarize yourself with the library, then perhaps you will not need the assistance of the librarians as much.
It is Not Just the Librarians
Homeschool groups also have complaints about the librarians, namely that they are treated differently simply for homeschooling. The biggest complaint comes from what librarians are saying about them. Accusations about child abuse and questions about socialization make some homeschool families less willing to go to the library. If they change their tone or try harder to keep their opinions about homeschooling to themselves, this would make the families feel better.
Homeschool groups, parents, and children can find a way to peacefully coexist with librarians simply by following the golden rule. Treat the librarians the way they wanted to be treated.
Sources:
Furness, Adrienne. Helping Homeschoolers in the Library. Kindle, 2009.
Masters, Denise G. "Public Library Services for Home Schooling." ERIC Digest (1996): 4.
Join the Conversation