Homeschool Resources

Youth Services librarians help support homeschooling in a variety of ways.

Book Collections

Requests for Collections

We are glad to fill requests for collections tailored to your homeschool needs. Please make your request in advance of when you need the collection as it usually takes several days to do a careful job of selecting materials for you, especially when more than 50 items are required. We will always do our best to meet your schedule, but we cannot guarantee to have collections ready on short notice. Requests may be made in person, by phone (294-7171), by fax (294-8578), or through our Teacher Collection Request Form [1].

Check-Out Procedures

Materials will be checked out on your personal Wright Library card, so you will need to provide us with the barcode number from your library card. We will notify you as soon as your collection is ready, so please wait for out phone call before coming to pick up the materials. Also, note that your collection is checked out on the day we contact you, so any delay in picking up your materials means less time before they are due back.

If the collection is not picked up within five days after you are notified, the items will be reshelved. If there is an unavoidable delay, please call to make arrangements for an extension.

Returning Your Collection

Please return your collection to the check-out desk.

Loan Periods

The loan period is six weeks for books, audiobooks, and music CDs and two weeks for videos and DVDs.

Renewing Your Collection

Your collection can be renewed twice for an additional three weeks each time. You may renew online, by phone, or in person at the check-out desk. Items on hold for another patron cannot be renewed.

Overdue Materials/Fines

Materials not returned or renewed by the due date are overdue and accumulate fines of 10 cents per day per item. (The only exception are "Fast Read" items which are $1.00 per day per item, but it is unlikely that these would be included in a collection.) Fines are charged to your library card.

Please keep in mind that, per library policy, late, damaged, or lost items will incur a fine, and fines will not be waived. Fines/fees that total $5.00 or more must be paid in full before any additional materials can be borrowed.

Limitations and Exceptions

No one may borrow all the books on a single topic. Upon request we will gladly reserve books on any topic for in-library use, so that your students are guaranteed access to them.

Because of their seasonal popularity, limitations do apply to Holiday books during the six weeks before a holiday.

Keeping Track of What You Have Borrowed

A list of the materials you have borrowed will be included with your collection. You may also print a list of all items you have out on loan at any catalog terminal in the library or view them in your online account [2].

Programming at the Library

No programs specifically for homeschool families are being offered at the library at this time. However, homeschool children are welcome to attend any of our regular programs. Watch our Events Calendar [3] and this Web page for future homeschool programs.

Book Talks, Story Programs, and Library Tours

We are happy to provide book talks or story programs tailored to homeschool groups at the library. Tours of Wright Library for homeschool groups may be arranged upon request. Please schedule tours and other programs as far in advance as possible and provide alternative dates.

Workshops for Homeschool Groups

Instructional sessions may be arranged that focus on various areas of library use. Such workshops include:

Using the Library Catalog
Finding What You Need in the Library
How to Use the Library's Research Databases
Introduction to Searching the Internet

Or sessions can be designed for your group’s particular needs and interests.

Resources

Wright Memorial Public Library offers a variety of resources for homeschoolers. This page lists some of the good resources available on the Internet.

For general educational resources:

Library Databases for Children [4]
These sites are available through the Wright Memorial Public Library website.

For homeschool information specific to Ohio:

Ohio Home Educators Network [5]
This site offers information about the Ohio Administrative Code as well as the forms needed to begin homeschooling in Ohio.

Homeschool Central [6]
Find contact information here for homeschool groups that meet in Ohio.

For general homeschool information and ideas:

A to Z Home’s Cool [7]
This site covers various teaching methods and educational resources.

Homeschool World [8]
Includes links to study materials, curricula, special education, and teaching aids. This is the website for Practical Homeschooling Magazine.

Jon’s Homeschool Resources [9]
An extensive source of neutral, non-commercial homeschooling information gathered by a homeschooling father.

American Homeschool Association [10]
Answers frequently asked questions about homeschooling, and provides articles, resource lists, support groups and organizations, and helpful website links. Includes an email discussion list and newsletter.

Home Education Magazine [11]
Search a wide range of topics from past and upcoming Home Education Magazine (HEM) issues and view an extensive list of resources. The print version of Home Education Magazine [12] is available from the Library and is shelved in the magazine area in the front of the library.

Learn in Freedom! [13]
Developed by a homeschooling parent in Taiwan, this site ddresses such issues as socialization, language development, age segregation, college acceptance, and schools and crime. Includes an annotated bibliography of resources, and online and print versions of hard-to-find homeschooling articles.

Hot Chalk Lesson Plans [14]
Over 4,000 lesson plans sorted by subject and grade level.