Comments on: “Ask a [Smrt] Homeschooler” about Libraries (and ten reasons I don’t rely on them)

By: State of the Blog Address » Smrt Lernins

State of the Blog Address » Smrt Lernins — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:56:35 +0000

[...] covered a few controversial topics that generated some great discussion (seriously, who know that libraries were [...]

By: Rivka

Rivka — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:38:12 +0000

We are massive library users. We juuust started officially homeschooling, so who knows how things will shake out for us in the long run, but I see us getting a ton of supplemental material from our library.

Factors which make our situation different from yours:
1. We live just a few blocks from the main branch of the Baltimore public library system. They have seven floors of book storage. They. Have. EVERYTHING. They don’t have to cull regularly for space reasons the way that suburban libraries do.

2. My kid is a new kindergartener, so we’re still at the picture book stage. We might go through a dozen supplemental books on a topic we study for a week. (We’re using Five in a Row, so we’re doing a quick tour of everything rather than sustained sequential study.) Even on abebooks.com, that would add up significantly.

3. I can request ILL books from libraries all over Maryland for free online.

4. The kids have fine-free library cards. Even the one-year-old.

5. The children’s library is self-contained and uncrowded, so (a) the toddler can’t get lost while I’m looking for books for the kindergartener, and (b) they don’t mind if my kids make normal kid-type noises.

6. The children’s librarians take a personal interest in my kids and the books they’re reading. They are incredibly helpful when I go in with my lists.

By: Rivka

Rivka — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 20:23:43 +0000

I like that, among my friends, this is pretty much a universal dearest dream. Even though the internet probably renders having the OED as an in-print resource unnecessary.

…I mean, it comes with a magnifying glass! Does the Internet do that? Noooo.

By: Angela

Angela — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 03:36:09 +0000

Totally agree (as usual). I always feel guilty for not using the fabulous free resource, especially when finances are tighter now. Oh, I go occasionally, but even if their system says they have a book “on the shelf”, half the time it isn’t there. Frustrating. Oh and I can only take out 20 books at a time. When the library is a 90 minute drive back and forth, I end up taking advantage of Amazon and Prime membership.

By: “Getting to Know You” Saturday » Smrt Lernins

“Getting to Know You” Saturday » Smrt Lernins — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:28:20 +0000

[...] at Peanuts are Evil responded to my post about why I don’t rely on public libraries for homeschooling by sharing why she loves the public library. She has great rationale for why she [...]

By: Smrt Mama

Smrt Mama — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:07:45 +0000

I hope you don’t mind if I link this in my post!

By: Cara

Cara — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:23:10 +0000

This post just sparked a post on why I love the library. LOL
http://peanutsareevilandothercrazystuff.blogspot.com/2010/06/june-blogging-challenge-day-5-reasons-i.html

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 20:27:44 +0000

Oh well.

It really is so nice to just be surrounded with your own books. I started cleaning my bookshelves with the help of my youngins today. It has been so relaxing to stare at my shelf (because there is no way I can finish the job in one day, especially when factoring in the aforementioned urchin help) of dusted and arranged favorites.

By: tracey

tracey — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:38:07 +0000

We TOTALLY use the library! All the time. It’s great for extra books that I don’t need to own (like our geography fair on Iceland. I mean, really? Who wants to own a book about Iceland?) and for encouraging my kids to just TRY new books without having to fork over the money first. (We are broke AND I’m naturally cheap. Not a good combination.) Our library allows us to do several things that rock:

I can reserve anything online that I want. They will email me when the books are ready. I can even arrange to have them all ready at the same time!

I can RENEW online. BIG BIG BIG deal. Without that, I don’t think we’d be able to survive. We can renew for 6 weeks, so it lasts just long enough for a lesson plan or to finish several chapter books.

By: Dorothy

Dorothy — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:03:41 +0000

I love my library but I use it my way and only for things that I won’t be using again. We also have thousands of books we own and I could never give up buying new (or used) books.

-I order all my books online and then just go once to pick them up.
-I can renew online (good thing because I used to have some fines in the past that were more than a car payment)
-I NEVER bring my younger children. That’s what my teenager is for – to babysit while I run to the library.
-If I’m checking something out to see if I want to buy it, I’ll get it from the library rather than deal with possible returns.
-Books that we’re reading as part of a topic but that by the next time we do the topic will be too young for the kids, or I’m not sure how much we’ll like it – I’ll get from the library.
-Books that have multiple uses, or can be used for multiple topics, or will cover a range of years – I always buy these.
-I just can’t afford to buy every book I may want for a topic but I want to increase the reading I do with the younger kids. We’re going to start studying gravity soon. I really don’t feel the need to own 5 picture books on gravity so I borrowed them from the library.