Presented at the culmination of SI 620 Collection Development at University of Michigan School of Information. The group focused on one portion of the overall Collection Development portfolio developed for the course.
1. Homeschool Collection for
Manchester District Library
Chris Bulin, Lauren Day, Erin
Kinnee and Amy Scott
April 18, 2014
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2. What to expect:
• An introduction to Manchester District
Library (MDL)
• Research questions and findings
• Team’s recommendations to tailor the
homeschool collection to the community
3. Presented by:
• Chris Bulin
– Introduction
• Amy Scott
– Established Best
Practices
• Lauren Day
– Sample Homeschool
Collection
• Erin Kinnee
– Research Methods
4. Purpose
• Introduce you to MDL
• Explore best practices and trends in
homeschooling
• Discuss a model for a superb homeschool
collection
• Describe recommendations for MDL
5. MDL Particulars: Location
• Washtenaw County near the border with
Jackson County, south of Chelsea
• District consists of several townships and
the village of Manchester
• Largely rural
6. MDL Particulars:
Population
• Total population of the District: ~5,300
• Median age 46 years
• Income levels higher than average for
Michigan; ~$87,000 annually
• Overwhelmingly Caucasian population (98%)
7. MDL Particulars: Unique
Attributes
• Recently Incorporated (2000)
• New Director hired in September 2013
• Requesting funds through millage in
November
• Lack of strategic scaffolding
9. Research Questions
• How can MDL provide the best experience for community
members who homeschool?
– What are the best resources for finding new homeschool
material?
– How does MDL determine which materials are best for its
community?
– Does the collection meet the needs of homeschooling patrons?
– What services best support the needs of patrons who are
homeschooling?
10. Research Findings: Nat’l
Trends in Homeschooling
• Increase of 0.08% in number of
homeschooled children from 1999-2007
• Children before fourth grade most likely to be
homeschooled
• Greatest percentage in rural areas
• 78% of homeschooled families obtained
materials through their public library
11. Research Findings: Best
Practices
• Keep copies of catalogs of homeschool
materials
• Have a brochure highlighting materials
and services for homeschoolers
15. Research Findings: Case
Study – Johnsburg Library
• Loan of kits and science paraphernalia
• Increased use, including out of towners
• HRC prefix in catalog
23. Review
• Introduce you to MDL
• Explore best practices and trends in
homeschooling
• Discuss a model for a superb homeschool
collection
• Describe recommendations for MDL
24. Take Aways
• Community Needs Assessment
• Ongoing Community Feedback
• Strategic Planning
26. • Campbell, Caralyn Bayne. "Shelby County Public Libraries and Homeschooling Parents." Alabama
Librarian 52, no. 1 (January 2002): 11-12. Library Literature & Information Science Full Text (H.W.
Wilson), EBSCOhost (accessed March 12, 2014).
• Furness, A. (2008). Curriculum Kits for Homeschoolers. Public Libraries, 47 (3), 23-24.
• Marquam, T. (2008). Fable and Fact: Serving the Homeschool Population in Public Libraries. Indiana
Libraries, 27 (1), 12-18.
• National Center for Education Statistics 2011. (2012). Number and Percentage of Homeschooled Students
Ages 5 through 17 with a Grade Equivalent of Kindergarten through 12th Grade, by Selected Child, Parent,
and Household Characteristics: 1999, 2003, and 2007. Digest of Education Statistics. Accessed March 13,
2014. http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d11/tables/dt11_040.asp
• Paradise, C. (2008). Our Homeschool Alliance is a Winner. Public Libraries, 47 (3) 21-22.
• Princiotta, D., Bielick, S., and Chapman, C. (2006) Homeschooling in the United States: 2003: Statistical
Analysis Report. U.S. Department of Education Institute of Education Sciences. Accessed April 5, 2014,
from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006042.pdf
References