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Anybody else use library books for the majority of their curriculum?  

post #1 of 36
11/10/08 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 
Just wondering if I'm the only one. I our library system and most probably overuse it. We get to search for books online that are shared by multiple libraries. More often than not they have exactly what we want and much more. It does take a bit of adventurous wading through on my part with this approach. A lot of books 'don't make the cut' so to speak and go right back. Like right now we are studying planets and out of the half dozen I choose I only liked one for how clear and simple it was with excellent pictures.
post #2 of 36
11/10/08 at 1:51pm
I definitely use our library. I am always requesting books. We are heading to the library in a few minutes to pick up the books that are waiting for me.
post #3 of 36
11/10/08 at 2:48pm
Yes- I use a ton to supplement, mostly for science and history. Our librarian says it is not possible to over use the system! She says that our family does WONDERFUL things for their distribution numbers which keeps their funding up!
post #4 of 36
11/10/08 at 2:56pm
lol. Our librarian says the same thing! We use the library and the internet as our main resources. We also have some cheapo workbooks laying around to use. Other than that, we meet all of the ministry guidelines pretty easily this way with a significant amount of funds left over for our ministry learning investment.
post #5 of 36
11/10/08 at 2:59pm
Our librarian know us so well that he orders us books that he thinks we would like on our cards as a surprise. He also puts the brand new cool books in our pile for us to peruse before anyone else gets to them. The perks of having the library as our second home!
post #6 of 36
11/10/08 at 3:29pm
Too jealous for words!

We use the library a ton. Our library system bites. We check out two big totes full of books every week, and still the children's librarians act as if they've never seen us before every single week, and are no help at all. Seriously, if you ask them for a book of greek myths, they'll kind of wander around the room and then vaguely point to the wall where folktales are and say they might have something over there. And if you really press them for help they'll go up to the wall and start fingering book spines until they sigh and say "someone must have taken them" even though you can see that there are three books of collected greek myths on the third shelf of the very next section. This really happened! And not by a "library aide", by the real children's librarian whose been there longer than we've been going to the library. When I'm feeling wicked I ask for help, just in the hope that maybe by getting off his duff he'll figure out the Dewey Decimal System at least as well as my 8 yo.
So yeah, we use it, a lot, but we don't LIKE it!

UGH!
post #7 of 36
11/10/08 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissRubyandKen View Post
Just wondering if I'm the only one. I our library system and most probably overuse it. We get to search for books online that are shared by multiple libraries. More often than not they have exactly what we want and much more. It does take a bit of adventurous wading through on my part with this approach. A lot of books 'don't make the cut' so to speak and go right back. Like right now we are studying planets and out of the half dozen I choose I only liked one for how clear and simple it was with excellent pictures.
I could have written this myself! I go online and search the catalog for books and request at least 20 per week. Just this morning we went and picked up a ton! Sometimes up to half of them as you said don't make the cut.

This system makes our trips to the library more fun. I am not stressed out trying to find the perfect book because I know it is behind the desk waiting for me. So, we can spend time together in the children's section reading books the kids find, doing puzzles or playing with the puppets.
post #8 of 36
11/10/08 at 3:45pm
We're big library fans. Especially for science and history.
post #9 of 36
11/10/08 at 3:47pm
I'm SO glad to read this.

We love the library and bring home about 40 books every week. We have a great library system too, three libraries close to us and a large network for interlibrary loan.

I love to browse through the nonfiction sections of the children's rooms, and I wondered why you couldn't get through the early years with "just" the library and internet. It seems like there are great books on every topic.

I pick up everything I can find at booksales and yard sales too, as well as inexpensive work books.
post #10 of 36
11/10/08 at 4:00pm
We use the library for probably 75% of our homeschooling. I usually have 20 or so books on my hold list.... and keep adding.

We also go weekly for an arts & crafts session as well as story time.

I our library. The children's librarian has also offered some killer recommendations of books depending on what the kids are interested in.
post #11 of 36
11/10/08 at 5:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Village Mama View Post
Our librarian know us so well that he orders us books that he thinks we would like on our cards as a surprise. He also puts the brand new cool books in our pile for us to peruse before anyone else gets to them. The perks of having the library as our second home!
I'm extremely jealous. That said, while I have a larger library where that kind of personal relationship isn't possible, I love our library, particularly Interlibrary Loan. And luckily, my library has a rawkin' online system so that I don't have to drag Ms Destructo and make a million ILL/holds requests while she tears books off the shelf.
post #12 of 36
11/10/08 at 5:53pm
Oh yes, we use the library so much for DD's prek! We also can get online, search the system & request books. It's sooo convenient & when I arrive, I have that nice stack of books I requested. We're moving in 1 yr. or so & I dread moving to an area with a poor library system. It is something I've been looking at when we look for a new place to live. Geeky, I know, but the library is our backbone!
post #13 of 36
11/10/08 at 6:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Mom's Love View Post
Geeky, I know, but the library is our backbone!
Not geeky! We chose our town because it has a good library, park, pool, etc. within walking distance!
post #14 of 36
11/10/08 at 6:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissRubyandKen View Post
Just wondering if I'm the only one. I our library system and most probably overuse it. We get to search for books online that are shared by multiple libraries. More often than not they have exactly what we want and much more.
Us too. I'm always requesting books from other libraries. I once jokingly asked our librarian if we won the prize for most books requested and she hesitated a moment then, in all seriousness said, "No, I think there's someone else who might request more."

Aside from the large system we have, we also have a paid membership to a system in the next county over. :
post #15 of 36
11/10/08 at 6:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SagMom View Post
Aside from the large system we have, we also have a paid membership to a system in the next county over. :
Oh, I didn't know you could do that! Neat.
post #16 of 36
11/10/08 at 10:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Love_My_Babies View Post
Not geeky! We chose our town because it has a good library, park, pool, etc. within walking distance!
Thanks, it's nice knowing there are like minded people out there! :
post #17 of 36
11/11/08 at 12:11am
Thanks for the thread and the inspiration... I'm still searching for a solution to our specific needs but I've never tried ordering a book or even the local library... I use the one on base (on an Air Force base) and I really hate their selection but tomorrow I'll try to pop into the local one and see what they have. Any book suggestions for 4yo non-fiction?
post #18 of 36
11/11/08 at 1:34am
I search Barnes and Noble to get ideas when I don't have any. Then I order the books through the library. When I have extra money, I go to the used bookstore and buy books. But the majority comes from the library.
post #19 of 36
11/11/08 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CallMeKelly View Post
Any book suggestions for 4yo non-fiction?
Check out Honey for a Child's Heart. Someone else posted that title here a few weeks ago, and I read it. The book is all about the value of literature and it has awesome lists of great books to read to children based on their age and interest.
post #20 of 36
11/11/08 at 1:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Love_My_Babies View Post
Check out Honey for a Child's Heart. Someone else posted that title here a few weeks ago, and I read it. The book is all about the value of literature and it has awesome lists of great books to read to children based on their age and interest.
yes, I posted that book title, as well as my fav list: 1000 good books from Classical Homeschooling dot org
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Mothering › Forums › Education › Learning at Home and Beyond › Anybody else use library books for the majority of their curriculum?