Serving Homeschooled Teens and Their Parents - (Libraries Unlimited Professional Guides for Young Adult Libr) by Maureen Lerch & Janet Welch

About the Book

Today more than a million students are being educated at home; and that figure increases at a rate of 7-14% annually. Homeschooling is a growing trend in our society, and public librarians are being called upon with increasing frequency to serve the needs of homeschooled students. So, just what are the needs of the homeschooled teen, and how can you and your library meet those needs? A former young adult librarian and a homeschool parent have joined forces to create this insightful guide and answer that question. After reviewing the developmental and social needs of teens, the authors demonstrate how those needs may be met in the public library setting. You'll find a wealth of ideas for adapting every facet of your library service for this growing population--from developing a homeschool collection to expanding services and creating special programs. You'll also find suggestions on how to market what your library has to offer to homeschoolers. You may even discover some new ways to employ the talents and time of these students and their families. Extensive resource lists conclude the volume, they will help you better serve home-educated teens and their parents.

Book Synopsis

Today more than a million students are being educated at home; and that figure increases at a rate of 7-14% annually. Homeschooling is a growing trend in our society, and public librarians are being called upon with increasing frequency to serve the needs of homeschooled students. So, just what are the needs of the homeschooled teen, and how can you and your library meet those needs? A former young adult librarian and a homeschool parent have joined forces to create this insightful guide and answer that question. After reviewing the developmental and social needs of teens, the authors demonstrate how those needs may be met in the public library setting. You'll find a wealth of ideas for adapting every facet of your library service for this growing population--from developing a homeschool collection to expanding services and creating special programs. You'll also find suggestions on how to market what your library has to offer to homeschoolers. You may even discover some new ways to employ the talents and time of these students and their families. Extensive resource lists conclude the volume, they will help you better serve home-educated teens and their parents.

Review Quotes

?[c]omprehensive toolbox for serving this often overlooked population....It is a much-needed resource highly recommended for all libraries.?-VOYA

?[A] comprehensive resource for librarians serving homeschooled teens. ...Recommended.?-Library Media Connection

?Increasingly, the public library is being called upon to provide materials, programs, and guidance for this group. This book focuses on planning and marketing services for homeschooled teens. It identifies resources, offers examples of surveys and marketing tools, and describes books, Web sites, and associations. Issues requiring decisions are outlined....This well-written resource is useful for librarians, as well as for the homeschooled.?-Booklist/Professional Reading

?Intended for librarians, this well-documented guide offers step-by-step strategies for providing service to this segment.?-Teacher Librarian

?The concept of this book is wonderful: a guide for librarians on how to better serve their homeschooled population.?-School Library Journal

"Ýc¨omprehensive toolbox for serving this often overlooked population....It is a much-needed resource highly recommended for all libraries."-VOYA

"ÝA¨ comprehensive resource for librarians serving homeschooled teens. ...Recommended."-Library Media Connection

"[c]omprehensive toolbox for serving this often overlooked population....It is a much-needed resource highly recommended for all libraries."-VOYA

"[A] comprehensive resource for librarians serving homeschooled teens. ...Recommended."-Library Media Connection

"Intended for librarians, this well-documented guide offers step-by-step strategies for providing service to this segment."-Teacher Librarian

"The concept of this book is wonderful: a guide for librarians on how to better serve their homeschooled population."-School Library Journal

"Increasingly, the public library is being called upon to provide materials, programs, and guidance for this group. This book focuses on planning and marketing services for homeschooled teens. It identifies resources, offers examples of surveys and marketing tools, and describes books, Web sites, and associations. Issues requiring decisions are outlined....This well-written resource is useful for librarians, as well as for the homeschooled."-Booklist/Professional Reading

About the Author

MAUREEN T. LERCH is a Reference/Outreach Librarian at the University of Akron Wayne College Library. She has served homeschooled teen patrons in the communities of Findlay, Louisville, and Orrville, Ohio.

JANET WELCH is Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator at Wadsworth Ella M. Everhard Public Library in Wadsworth, Ohio. A homeschooling mom, Welch is convinced that the public library is the greatest resource a homeschooler can have.