Please contact me with your answer to the following question. I have already included answers that folks sent me on Facebook. Please let me know if you do not want me to include your name in the posting. Please give as much info as possible including links, details, explanations, etc... I will add your answers to this page so that new homeschoolers will have a resource to refer back to again and again.
You can contact me at everestacademy1@gmail.com with your questions and answers. Please put "Blog Challenge" in the subject line.
Thanks!
Deb Spradlin
Everest Academy Administrator
Question: In what ways do you utilize the library?
My Answer: We have utilized our library in SO many ways. We have a great interlibrary exchange program where we can order any book, CD, DVD, etc from any of the Jefferson County libraries and have them sent to our library. We order books and movies all the time. We also buy used books, usually for $.10, for our personal library. We have done all kinds of programs at our library such as drama camp, sign language, movies, etc. Dae used to go up to the library to play the piano every day, and Dalton used to volunteer there. We are currently attending Career Club, Family Scouts, and 4H at our local library....much more than just books.
Answers:
Oh we Love our library!!!! We are in the Jefferson County Library Cooperative. We order books & audios online & pick them up at our closest library. I started years ago ordering unabridged books & the matching unabridged audios for my oldest son with dyslexia to listen to & follow along in the book. His reading speed & fluency took off! We could never have afforded all of those audio books. I am so grateful we have access to our library system. Even with our extensive home library, I am the lady that shows up with a large utility tote for books & audios. We used to check out puzzles, games, & other items, but with 5 kids, I just can't keep track of all of that now. It's nice to know the resources are there though.
We love our library! We supplement all science and math with resources there. All of our history and most of our electives comes from there. They will find us anything we need and even give us longer checkout times.
I use both Jefferson & Shelby county system libraries; on site & online. I am an avid patron & always have been.
We don't. The library has culled out so many of the classics and books with good Christian values and replaced them with books that rewrite history and are politically correct that it isn't worth my time to sift through to find a couple decent books. The last few times we went and asked the librarians for help they were not helpful at all. They would say - oh that should be in one of those bins there (there are like 30 bins), or ' well the computer says its not checked out so I don't know where it is'. It use to be a favorite place to go now I get a better selection at the used book stores or thrift stores.
I don't know how we would make it without our libraries! We visit ours at least once a week if not twice. We read for pleasure but also check out living books, bios, etc to supplement our curriculum. We have even found actual homeschooling text books on the shelves of the local library. They also have very educational summer reading programs and story time for the little ones that we have taken advantage of since the kids were very small. They do lots of fun , free summer activities, crafts, movie nights, etc. We love our library! ( we actually go to four but mainly one in particular)
I use the public library ALL the time-----I'm nearly 66, a retired public school teacher and now teach in a homeschool co-op-----yes, and loving it. Nothing like the old way of doing somethings ----- I like getting the book, flipping thru it, actually HOLDING it, and then checking out a BIG stack. I write down page number or use sticky papers-----yeah, I have a lap-top and search lots of things, BUT, gotta love those books AND seeing every age in the library enjoying themselves and the printed page.
Ditto, Sherry! Our library system is great (Huntsville). Lots of science DVDs and good audio books (daughters are visual/auditory learners, one is dyslexic). Also, full Magic Treehouse collection. Best part: I can "shop" online for a range of media on a subject, put things on hold, and pick up at the closest library to me. LOVE that!
Summer Reading Programs! I actually signed up in 2 different libraries this year. After paying for "extra activities" all school year, it's great that they can go to these special programs for free. Also their prize incentive program has really encouraged my kids to read, read, read.
We don't. We prefer Netflix and ebooks or use Amazon for physical books. The process of going to the library is a major chore.
My children are both avid readers, but we also use the library to follow up our reading with classic movies.
We used to use the educational videos there, and even used some books at times. Most of the textbooks we have were purchased at the Friends of the Library bookstore. Now that my son is older, we use an online curriculum from elearningk12, but my son still spends a lot of time at the library - he volunteers there. He has his own library card and has read just about everything in the YA section. He attends a lot of the social events that they host there too. The time he spends there has helped him overcome a lot of social problems he has had due to his autism. He's learned a good work ethic volunteering there. The youth services volunteer coordinator, Emily, has been a great influence on him, and he thinks the world of her.
I love being able to get e books from the Jefferson county library. I have.noticed a lot more educational e books that my girls are loving. I also like to order what I want ans just go pick it up.
We've recently moved to another state and one thing I can say is I really miss the Jefferson County Coop. It was so useful in so many ways. It gave my child access to any book he could possibly want, while was invaluable as he was learning to read. From a teaching position, it was wonderful because I could request any books, DVDs, or other media and have it sent to my closest library. When it came to homeschooling resources, it also allowed me to preview many materials before purchasing. I could go on and on! If you have access to Jefferson County's Coop and you're not using it, you're missing out! Trust me, you don't know what you've got until it's gone!
Ours in Boaz, AL is great we try to find books they can learn from but also fun books like Barbie or something like that but mostly books that improve there reading
Our library offers Mango for foreign languages....free! Great for homeschoolers! French, German, Spanish, and Chinese
We love the local Birmingham libraries! I have a younger child and all the story times and extra programs they share are wonderful We have met great ppl at the library and I'm thankful for those librarians. They don't compare to my zone city school Teachers.
