Homeschool Services

Welcome to the Bartholomew County Public Library Homeschool Services page! Our mission at BCPL is to act as the "community crossroads; connecting people, information, ideas, and experiences to empower everyone on their journey of lifelong learning." We strive to support our nontraditional, homeschooling, and e-learning families in their work and play, providing not only a robust collection of books and materials, but a wide selection of learning resources, including digital materials, databases, meeting space, virtual and in-person programs, and more.

Learning and Curricular Needs

We have a wide variety of books and materials to offer, including a carefully curated special collection full of parenting, homeschooling, and education-related materials for caregivers. Better yet, we are constantly working to improve our collection to better meet your needs. We are happy to purchase items for our collection upon request, especially if those items will widely benefit other co-ops or families. We also have access to other libraries’ collections via Interlibrary Loan. Just submit your reading list to us, and we will our best to get you what you need.

Please note that we are unable to purchase workbooks or other single-use materials, although we do accept donations.

Digital Resources

You can access a wide range of online resources for free using your BCPL library card. Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla are great platforms for downloading eBooks or audio books. Rosetta Stone and Mango Languages provide beginner-level world language and ESL instruction. Gale Courses offer access to 300+ online classes, taught by industry professionals in a wide range of subjects. ABCMouse is available in the library and at home for free, and we offer tutoring services every evening from 4-11pm via Tutor.com. More information is available on our Learning Resources page.

Meeting Rooms

Does your co-op need a place to meet? At our branch in Columbus, we have five public meeting rooms and event spaces available for reservation. There are two smaller meeting rooms perfect for study sessions or project groups. The Conference Room and Red Room are ideal for larger classes, presentations, or graduations. You can reserve meeting rooms by clicking the “reserve a room” link at the top of this page.

Programs & Events

Every month, we host at least 25 unique monthly programs, and that is just downstairs in the Children’s Department! While we do not currently have sessions exclusively for homeschool students, ALL of our programs are open to homeschoolers, and we are always open to suggestions for new programs or program times. We also host a semi-regular homeschooling meetup where families can share ideas and materials and generally socialize with one another in an inclusive environment. View a program guide, visit the events page of our website, or ask at the desk for more information about specific programs.

Homeschooling Information Binder

We maintain a binder of information in the children's department for families interested in learning more about homeschooling, including local groups and resources in our area. If you would like to contribute information about your group to this binder, or to this web page, please contact us.

A Note Regarding Censorship

As a library, it is our responsibility to purchase, collect, and display materials that represent and benefit all members of the community, regardless of their age, sex, religion, gender, nationality, identity, and so forth. We understand that there may be materials present in the collection that you feel are inappropriate for your child(ren). However, we as library staff cannot censor any materials for patrons. It is your responsibility as a parent or guardian to preview materials and, if necessary, limit your child’s access to those you deem inappropriate. We affirm your right to do this, and appreciate your understanding. We are always happy to offer or take suggestions for alternative titles.

We would love to hear from you!

If you have any questions or suggestions for us, please feel free to contact us. You can reach us directly using the form on this page, or by calling us during business hours at 812-379-1288.

We genuinely appreciate your feedback!