see also: Homeschooling Programs

              Homeschooling Laws NYS

Resources for Librarians

Homeschool Diner

Provides a nice introduction to homeschooling methods and philosophies for people who are new to the subject.

Homeschooling and Libraries blog

Occasional news and book reviews relevant to librarians.

The Less-than-$150 Homeschooling Collection

Homeschooling in Monroe County

• Rochester Area Homeschoolers Association (RAHA)
• Simply Homeschooling Yahoo List
• Kids Out and About

From http://www.libsuccess.org

Top 10 Ways to Help Homeschoolers in the Library

Ten important things libraries can do to better serve homeschoolers from her PowerPoint presentation, Helping Homeschoolers in the Library, Adrienne Furness (2008):

1. Talk to homeschoolers who visit the library. Find out what the homeschoolers in the area are looking for. Remember, not all homeschoolers are the same.

2. Make sure people can find homeschooling materials—they can’t check out what they can’t find. Make a special section for homeschooling materials. Spine labels or pathfinders can make resources more visible.

3. Learn what homeschooling groups are active in the community, what their missions are, and who is running them. Tap into existing networks using word-of-mouth interaction. Remember that homeschoolers can be ultra-sensitive about privacy issues.

4. Allow and encourage homeschoolers to use library meeting room space. This gets the homeschoolers into your library and provides the opportunity to market library resources and services.

5. Display projects created by homeschooled children and teens.

6. Create handouts of the state laws and regulations pertaining to homeschoolers.

7. Maintain a file of catalogs from companies that sell materials and supplies of interest to homeschoolers. Items can be stored in boxes and either circulated or made available as reference materials.

8. Extend any privileges made for to public and private school teachers (extended loan, no overdue fines, increased limits, etc.) to homeschoolers. Homeschooling parents are teachers.

9. Consider the needs of homeschoolers when creating library policies such as meeting rooms, loan periods, item limits, interlibrary loan fees, overdue fines/maximum fines, and volunteer programs.

10. Attend local homeschooling conferences, lectures, and curriculum fairs. Talk to homeschoolers to find out what they are talking about. Look at potential acquisitions for your collection. Attend annual state homeschooling conference (p.93-95).