Friends, I love libraries and I loved them long before I ever became a homeschool mom. Because of that, no one needed to convince me of the many ways libraries can help with homeschooling. That came pretty naturally to me.
However, it took time for me to see why libraries and homeschool budgets make a good team. Now I know that when it comes to making over your homeschool budget, the library is an incredible place to start! In many cases, libraries help you bypass your budget altogether.
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Libraries are well-known for their children’s books, but you might be surprised by what kind of homeschool resources are available to you there.
In addition to the books I’ve needed for the kids, I’ve been able to find a whole slew of homeschool resources for me and even curriculum from time to time. All of these were accessible through my local library system. When lots of libraries come together and share resources, you benefit greatly and make lighter work for your homeschool budget.
How your homeschool budget
benefits from your library
Don’t live in a big city or have access to a big library system? No problem. If you live in a small town like I have before and there are no huge libraries to be found, there are still plenty of ways your library can help you make over your homeschool budget.
Not an avid reader? Your homeschool budget can still benefit from the perks that come with library membership. If you don’t have a library card, you need one! Here are some reasons why:
Some homeschool resources are needed temporarily.
Many books used in homeschooling are only needed for a few weeks, some only a day or two. There’s no need to purchase books that are only needed for a short amount of time. By borrowing what you need instead of purchasing every single book, your budget doesn’t get involved at all.
Libraries allow you to try before you buy.
Borrowing books from your library allows you to give books a test drive before buying them for your homeschool.
For example, there were plenty of options around when I started working on reading with my oldest. I borrowed Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons and used it for a few weeks before deciding to purchase my own copy. If it had turned out to be a bad match, it wouldn’t have caused any harm to my budget because I didn’t have any money invested.
Libraries let your kids explore new series… and learn in the process.
Borrowing from your library allows your children to fall in love with amazing series without your budget taking a hit. We love Magic Tree House books around here and work them into our homeschool plans whenever possible.
When they’re not weaved into our lesson plans, The Boy is still learning all kinds of things with Jack, Annie, and teaching resources found on the Magic Tree House website.
With 53 books and counting in this series, there’s no way we could enjoy these fabulous adventures without the help of our library. Thankfully, our homeschool budget is still intact and the Magic Tree House series is ever-present in our home.
Libraries offer books and lots more!
Lots of libraries have tons of additional resources! Books are great, but they aren’t the only reason to love your library. You can also borrow DVDs, video games, themed learning kits, and games at some locations. Our library even allows us to check out museum passes to visit region museums and attractions for free.
Library membership usually comes with access to digital resources like Hoopla, OverDrive, and Libby. That means digital access to books, movies, and music is also available. And being able to borrow in lieu of purchasing frees up your budget for other things.
Library sales offer BIG homeschool savings.
Some books are better borrowed, but lots of them are worth buying! Library sales are another great way to find the books you need for much less than retail price. Being able to help your local library through your purchase is an added bonus.
Libraries add lots of extras to your homeschool lineup.
Libraries have great programs for your kids — usually for free! We’ve enjoyed Lego Robotics, reading programs, animal presentations, puppet shows, and story hours all for free through our libraries. What’s not to love about that?
Related: How to maximize your library membership for homeschooling
Hopefully you can see how loving your library can play a huge role in making over your homeschool budget. The key point to remember is that you can borrow instead of buying. By borrowing, you can bypass your budget altogether and still have many of the resources you need for your homeschool.
While borrowing from a library isn’t always possible, it makes a difference when you let borrowing become your default approach to obtaining what you need. Remember that every resource borrowed helps to free up your budget for the things that must be purchased.
Make Over Your Homeschool Budget Series
Day 1 – Smarter Shopping
Day 2 – Budget Busters
Day 3 – Love Your Library
Day 4 – Saving and Streaming
Day 5 – Websites You Need to Know