SUMMARY:
Homeschooling is an established and growing activity;
libraries are obvious support points for homeschoolers,
but little or no information is available
on library support for homeschooling.
this project will investigate library support
for homeschooling in three states,
rank and compare attitudes and needs;
make conclusions for improvements.
Project also foresees creation of a website devoted to
library support to homeschooling
to act as a permanent focal point for the area.

DEFINITION:
Home schooling:
Parents educating their own children at home
as opposed to enrolling them in public or private schools;
Original schooling pattern
before creation of formal school system / industrial revolution

CURRENT SITUATION:
Legal in all fifty US states
(normally with controls, inspections etc.),
One to two percent of children in US (Brostrom, 1997)
said to be expanding 25 per cent per year (Scheps, 1999)
http://dir.yahoo.com/Education/Theory_and_Methods/Home_Schooling/
Well-organized in support groups:
http://www.kangamanga.com/SupportGroups/SupportGroups.htm
Iowa: The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators:
http://www.the-niche.org/
National magazine:
http://www.home-ed-magazine.com/

MULTICULTURAL / MULTINATIONAL NATURE:
Majority Christian (Evangelical Protestants strongly represented)
but also: Islamic:
http://home.ici.net/~taadah/Homeschool/muslim.html
Pagan / Wiccam:
http://www.homestead.com/barbooch/PaganHomeschool.html
Unschoolers:
http://www.unschooling.org/
Catholic:
http://www.ktc.com/personal/jbwieser/#catholic
Jewish:
http://snj.com/jhen/

USA; also Canada; Australia; New Zealand etc.

ADVANTAGES OF HOMESCHOOLING:
Intensive, individual educational program
more effective than large mixed-level classroom;
Bring up children in religious and other values,
not taught in public schools;
Protect children against peer pressure, competition
and violence in public schools
Specific treatment for gifted / challenged children
Greater parent / child contact
No time wasted in buses

DISADVANTAGES OF HOMESCHOOLING
Reduced opportunities to socialize
with children of same age group
Constant parent / child interaction, 24/7
Generally no access to school facilities / extra-curricular activities:
laboratories, school library, sports, drama, choir, clubs
Only for middle class families
of good organizational / income level
(Pay for public school via taxes;
buy curriculum materials for homeschooling!)

WRITING ON HOMESCHOOLING:
Books: numerous "How to do it"
or "How we did it" texts
(Barnes and Noble offers about forty titles of this type)
Some texts on the law and homeschooling
Few academic discussions

LIBRARIES AND HOMESCHOOLING:
Relatively little attention paid
either by libraries or by homeschoolers
No research-level studies
but public library provides window on world /
obvious reference point for homeschoolers:
essential support for educational activities:
materials to support curriculum:
Additional reading materials
(homeschoolers may watch little TV)
A/V and other materials.
Homeschoolers have relatively little money to purchase books:
one-salary families;
basic curriculum materials quite expensive (e.g. $400 cited).
Homeschoolers can be heavy public library users:
Washington survey: 93% use PL; 54% weekly;
11% more than once a week (Madden)
But much dissatisfaction with libraries
Support groups set up their own libraries

HOMESCHOOLER CONCERNS ABOUT LIBRARIES:
Children may come into contact with inappropriate materials:
wrong age group, evolution, occult
Librarians not interested in homeschoolers' problems
Library may lack adequate support materials at appropriate level
Lack of personal contact with (specific) librarian

LIBRARY CONCERNS ABOUT HOMESCHOOLERS:
Homeschoolers very demanding on library resources
Need specialized resources little used by other patrons
Too small a group to deserve special attention
Unsupervised homeschoolers in library for long periods

LIBRARY APPROACHES TO HOMESCHOOLERS:
Contact homeschooling support groups
Listen to homeschoolers
Offer basic "How to homeschool" texts
Vertical file materials; including local legislation
Library tours
Reference workshops
Meeting rooms
Personal contact with librarians

FUTURE OF HOMESCHOOLING:
Continue as minor but significant activity;
Internet offers major opportunity for increased interaction
easier delivery of appropriate content

Other possible positive factors:
higher living standards
easier for one spouse to stay home
increased desire for diversity in education;
Homeschooling may level off at five percent of children (Kleist-Tesch, p. 234)

May become common pattern for schooling in future:
compare: home office:
rare twenty years ago; now common;
compare: universities:
distance learning / web based courses:
rare twenty years ago;
Ray Kurzweil foretells end of physical universities by circa 2020
 

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Principal problem:

How can public libraries improve their support of homeschooling?

Sub-problems:
What are the attitudes of public libraries to homeschoolers?
What are the attitudes of homeschoolers to public libraries?
What additional measures need to be taken
to improve library services to homeschoolers?
 

HYPOTHESES
(Note: hypotheses have been written in positive form)

Librarians normally demonstrate positive attitudes
towards support for homeschoolers

Homeschooling families normally demonstrate
positive attitudes towards libraries

Librarians and Homeschooling families will rank similarly
a list of measures which libraries could adopt
to improve support for homeschooling

Librarians and Homeschooling families
in different regions of the United States will demonstrate
similar attitudes towards library support for homeschooling
 

POPULATION / SAMPLE

POPULATION / SAMPLE: HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES
the population will be considered as
all homeschooling families within the United States.
Hawaii and Puerto Rico will be excluded,
due to their atypical geographic / cultural situation.

The sample will be taken from three states:
Iowa will be given priority to represent the Midwest,
and two other states will be selected at random,
one representing the East (excluding Puerto Rico)
and the other representing the West, (excluding Hawaii).

Most states have homeschooling associations,
presumably in contact with a significant number
of homeschooling families in that state.

Associations of homeschooling families
will be contacted and used to arrange
for the mailing of questionnaires
to a representative sample of families.

If a complete address list can be obtained from the association,
the researcher will select a sample.

If the association is unwilling to release its address list,
the association will be given instructions on how to select a sample.

(In this case it may be necessary to make a small payment
to the homeschoolers' association).

If the number of homeschooling families is relatively low,
all families in the state will be selected.

If the researcher is unable to obtain access to homeschooling families
via state-level homeschooling associations in a specific state,
another state in the region will be selected at random.

Exact sample sizes will be calculated
with the assistance of professional statisticians,
e.g. from the Statistical Consulting Service of the University of Iowa.
It is anticipated that 100 to 200 questionnaires may be distributed to
homeschooling families in each selected state.
 

POPULATION / SAMPLE: LIBRARIES:
Population: public libraries in the three states
whose homeschooling families are being contacted.
A random sample of libraries will be taken within those three states.
Exact sample sizes will be calculated
with the assistance of professional statisticians,
e.g. from the Statistical Consulting Service of the University of Iowa.
It is anticipated that 50 to 100 libraries may be contacted in each state.
 

METHODOLOGY:
Application of postal questionnaires to sample;
follow-up questionnaires where necessary.
Individual responses will be maintained confidential.
Respondents who indicate willingness
to answer further questions by telephone
may be contacted for clarification, additional questions etc.
 

FOCUS GROUP APPROACH:
If it proved impossible to identify homeschoolers
for purposes of a mail questionnaire
or if the response to a mail questionnaire
was poor or unsatisfactory
Focus groups could be used as an alternative approach.
These could be organized fairly easily
in meeting rooms in libraries;
the researcher would moderate the groups in Iowa;
Advantages of focus group methodology:
Permits research to be conducted in pioneering area
without restricting reactions to a formal questionnaire
enables home-schoolers to express opinions openly
in their own words
establishes open relationship between
homeschoolers and researcher from library school
 

SCHEDULE:
Two year project:

First semester:
background reading, sampling,
preliminary contacts with homeschooling association.

Second semester:
questionnaire development and pretesting;
final selection of sample,
preliminary application of questionnaire

Third semester:
follow-up application of questionnaire;
keyboarding and preliminary analysis of results

Fourth semester:
final analysis of results; conclusions,
preparation of research report,
preparation and submission of journal articles based on research
 

TEAM:
Principal researcher: Cavan McCarthy, Ph.D.,
Additional researcher from the area of Education
Two graduate assistants
 

BUDGET:
Limited financial support required for:
Graduate assistants
Printing and mailing questionnaires
Keyboarding and analyzing data
Office and computer support etc.
 

ELECTRONIC SUPPORT ACTIVITIES:

Create and maintain a website which will act as a
referral point for library support for homeschoolers,
bringing libraries and homeschoolers together
(no such site currently exists)
Link to libraries whose sites describe significant services for homeschoolers
Make suggestions for library activities in favor of homeschooling
Link to publishers and materials of relevance to homeschoolers
(Note that there is some possibility
of financial return from these links)

As constituent parts of the site: set up and maintain:

Specialized bibliography on homeschooling and libraries

Digital library of documents relevant to homeschooling
(when copyright permission can be obtained)

Receive responses to questionnaires
on library support for homeschooling
via HTML form or similar electronic system
(Note: data collected in this manner
would not be completely reliable,
as the electronic respondents would represent
only those homeschoolers
using Internet at a relatively high level.
But it would be very interesting to compare
data collected electronically without proper sampling and control
with data collected by traditional means;
studies of this nature are highly relevant as electronic data collection will
probably become common in the near future

Maintain and archive a discussion list
(LISTSERV) on library support for homeschoolers
 

APPENDIX:

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:
It is premature to discuss questionnaire design,
but a few sample questions have been presented
to give a preliminary overview of the type of information
considered relevant for this study:

JOINT QUESTIONS

Questions requiring a response by both homeschoolers and librarians:

Please read this list of factors which might influence public library support for homeschoolers.

Rate each statement according to the following scale:

1 Strongly agree
2 Agree
3 Neither agree nor disagree
4 Disagree
5 Strongly disagree
 

(   ) Public libraries are unaware of needs of homeschoolers

(   ) Public libraries are uninterested in attending to the requirements of homeschoolers

(   ) Public libraries are interested in attending to the requirements of homeschoolers, but have insufficient resources to be able to do this adequately

(   ) There are too few homeschoolers in this area for the public library to purchase specific resources

(   ) Libraries consider homeschooling curricular materials beyond the scope of library purchasing

(   ) Public libraries contain materials with content inappropriate for homeschoolers for sexual, occult or religious reasons

(   ) Public libraries contain adequate curricular support materials for homeschoolers
 

QUESTIONS FOR HOMESCHOOLING FAMILIES:

Please consider the public library you use to support homeschooling.

Please read this list of library materials and services
and select a ranking for each item in the list,
indicating the frequency with which you use them:

1: Very high use
2: High use
3: Medium use
4: Rare use
5: Never use

For example, if you make medium use of reference books,
complete the relevant line as:
(3) Reference books
 

(   ) Reference books (A)

(   ) Factual background reading (B)

(   ) Fiction, poetry, drama (C)

(   ) Textbooks (D)

(   ) Materials intended for school teachers (E)

(   ) Materials intended for homeschooling children (F)

(   ) Materials intended for parents of homeschoolers (G)

(   ) Video tapes (H)

(   ) Music tapes (I)

(   ) Audio books (J)

(   ) Microfilm (K)

(   ) Databases (L)

(   ) Internet (M)

(   ) Reference services (N)

(   ) Interlibrary loan (O)
 

Refer again to the list of materials and services above.
After each item you will find a letter.
Select up to five materials or services where you feel
there is the greatest need for improvement to support homeschooling.

Please write in the space below the letters for those areas.
For example, if you feel that more reference books are required,
write the letter "A" in the space below.

Do not select more than five letters or areas.
 

Please indicate your general level of satisfaction with the public library
you use for homeschooling support,
selecting one alternative from the list below:

(   ) Very satisfied
(   ) Satisfied
(   ) Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
(   ) Dissatisfied
(   ) Very dissatisfied
 

Please indicate how well the public library you normally use supports homeschooling,
selecting one alternative from the list below:

(   ) Offers strong support for homeschooling
(   ) Offers support for homeschooling
(   ) Offers reasonable support for homeschooling
(   ) Offers little support for homeschooling
(   ) Offers no support for homeschooling
 

Please read this list of specific actions, whereby libraries could improve contacts with homeschoolers.

Please rate each action according to the following scale:

1 Extremely valuable
2 Very valuable
3 Valuable
4 Doubtful value
5 No value
 

(   ) Contact homeschooling support groups

(   ) Listen to homeschoolers

(   ) Offer more basic "How to homeschool" texts

(   ) Offer relevant vertical file materials; including local legislation

(   ) Offer library tours

(   ) Offer workshops in using library materials

(   ) Make meeting rooms available for homeschoolers

(   ) Make meeting rooms available for homeschooling parents and support groups at times when children can use the library unsupervised

(   ) Improve personal contact with librarians

(   ) Appoint a specific librarian to handle contacts with homeschoolers

(   ) Allow homeschooling families the same loan rights as teachers

(   ) Library should participate in homeschooling meetings etc.

(Note: Librarians will be presented with an identical list; they will be asked which actions they are currently taking; what they could implant in the short / medium term, what they consider irrelevant / impossible to implant).
 

How frequently do you visit public libraries for support for homeschooling:

Several times a week

Once a week

Several times a month

Once a month

Less than once a month

Never
 
 

Which of the following public libraries do you use for homeschooling support
(Select more than one alternative if necessary):

(   ) Local Public library

(   ) Public library of another city of similar or smaller size (please identify):

(   ) Public library of a larger city (please identify):

If you are using a public library, other than your local public library,
please explain why you use this library:
 
 

Do you use any library, apart from a public library, for support for homeschooling?
If so, please specify:

Name of library:

Type of library:

Frequency of use:

Reasons for using this library:
 

SPECIFIC QUESTIONS FOR LIBRARIANS

In relation to total library use, use of your library by homeschoolers is:

(   ) Very significant

(   ) Significant

(   ) Relevant

(   ) Minor

(   ) Apparently non-existent
 
 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Anderson, Esta. Homeschooling and libraries - an intimate view: program at the 1996 Washington Library Association conference. Alki. 1996 July; 12:22-23.

Brostrom, David C. A guide to homeschooling for librarians. Fort Atkinson, Wis.: Highsmith Press; 1995. 85 p. Z711.92 .F34 B76 1995.

Brostrom, David C. No Place Like the Library: Making Homeschoolers Feel at Home. School Library Journal. 1997 Mar; 43(3):106-109.

Finney, Patrick William. Home school families and the public library: a qualitative study of library usage, information needs and attitudes. Iowa City: 1999. 135 p.

Halverstadt, J. Catering to students: a public library serves alternative schools. School Library Journal. 1995 Jul; 41(7):16-18.

Holt, Glen E. Pathways to tomorrow's service: the future of rural libraries: Rural Libraries and Information Services. Library Trends. 1995 Summer; 44(1):190-216.

Hunt, Rebecca N. Learning in the Library : An Assessment of Library Services to Homeschoolers. Feliciter. 1996 Jul./Aug.; 42(7-8):62-69.

Kleist-Tesch, Jane M. Homeschoolers and the Public Library. Journal of Youth Services in Libraries. 1998 Spring; 11(3):231-241.

Kurzweil, Ray. The age of spiritual machines: when computers exceed human intelligence. New York: Penguin; 1999. 388 p.

Lyman, Isabel. What's behind the growth in homeschooling: public school problems prompt parents into homeschooling. USA Today. 1998 Sep; 127(2640):64 - .

Madden, Susan B. Learning at Home: Public Library Service to Homeschoolers. School Library Journal. 1991 July; 37(7):23-25.

Morley, Deborah G. and Wooten, Toni. Public libraries and the homeschooling patron: survey of teachers and public library professionals in North Carolina. North Carolina Libraries. 1993 Spring; 51:38-42.

Robbers, Sandy. Libraries and homeschoolers: panel presentation during the Wisconsin Library Association conference, November 1990. The Unabashed Librarian. 1991; (80):18.

Sager, Donald J. Public library service to homeschoolers: special section. Public Libraries. 1995 July/Aug.; 34:201-205.

Scheps, Susan G. Homeschoolers and the public library : a resource guide for libraries serving homeschoolers. Chicago: Public Library Association; 1993. 106 p.

Scheps, Susan G. Homeschoolers in the library. School Library Journal. 1999; 45(2):38-39.

Scheps, Susan G. Homeschoolers in the public library: a resource guide for libraries serving homeschoolers. Journal of Youth Services in Libraries. 1994 Winter; 7(2):213-214.