Building a Home School Library on a budget

One of the beauties of Home Schooling is the multitude of books that come through the home. One of the not-so-beauties is having to pay for them all. At a cost of $20 per book can get a bit.. You know.. Pricey.

Naturally there are more frugal alternatives like using the library.

Library

Personally, I am not a library fan. Perhaps it is because our local library seems to have more inappropriate content in reach of my very small children, or because I would rather not attempt at choosing decent living books with four small children to supervise also.
It could be a bit of a drama when the baby would prefer to play with the toddler-sized-chairs rather than be read to or look at books quietly and a tantrum has ALWAYS ensued a visit, and perhaps the library staff take their sweet time to check out all 30-odd books when we go, and perhaps carrying out 30-odd books to the car while attempting to hold two-toddler hands and stop a runner-5-year-old from skipping her merry way in front of a car crossing the car park.
In short, I don't enjoy library visits as a family outing. Perhaps one day we will, this is not a one-day. I could possibly just go on my own but that would have to be timed well.

Enough about the library.

Home Library
Building a library for home use is an adventure and super fun. Especially when you bring them home by the box load. Here's how:

• Garage Sales
• Op Shops
• Gorgeous Friends who's children have outgrown their books 
• Book Sales
• Library Book Sales
• Toy Library Book Sales
• Online Home School sites
• Birthday and Special Occassion Gifts
• Buy when on $ALE

There, easy. And 1/8th of the price of Regular Retail

(Yes, I would prefer to take my kids into an op shop than the library!)

Buying Second Hand means we are recycling what others are no longer using. 

My Experiences
In the picture above the right hand side cubby hole is Dr Seuss books only. I only have like 38 of them (although I think I have acquired a few more since last count). I picked most of them up for $2ea and the bigger two for $3 in a bulk lot with loads of other books.

At an opshop I went through the entire shelf piling up books of interest, took my pile to the counter and said "How much for all of these? I only have $x so I will have to put some back" She gave them to me for $10 (would have been one of those cubby holes full). I was prepared to put some back but she was happy that the shelves were being cleared.

At another opshop I got two huge boxes full of books, homeschool curriculums and non-fiction books + educational games and puzzles + a few outfits + new glasses and bowls + things for the kitchen. For $30!! I can go to McDonalds for lunch with 4 kids and spend over that amount!!

Honestly homeschoolers, it is worth doing it!! 

Benefits of having a Home Library

• A wide variety of books available to all children at all times
• No late fees or return dates *ahem*
• Can have the book for ages and ages not a mere 3 weeks
• Builds interest in children, seeing different subject matter available all the time means they can choose different books so much easier
• When the baby rips a page out... its less a big deal than a library book (hasn't happened to me yet)
• You can lend your books out to other book lovers without pressure
• No library visits. Or reduced library visits
• Have the exact books that you DO want on hand when you want them
• You can pick up a specific book when a child asks you a specific question. Such as our human body books, when children ask questions we can 'research the answer together' 
• likewise when children want to know something or check on something they know they can find the book and 'teach themselves' or remind themselves. Rather than being 'force-fed' like what can happen in schools
• For us having lots of kids means that children are growing out of younger books and being picked up by younger children, so they are getting used and used well

Are you building a homeschool library? I'd love to know, 

and I'd love to know how you are building it :)

5 Things I am Thankful for:

1. Books available to buy at great prices

2. Amazing friends who's children are older and don't read their books anymore

3. Learning that takes place naturally through literature

4. Language development and interest through literature

5. Self-learning children researching areas of interest themselves (& seeking help when they need it)