Women's History Month Contest Information

Here at the Ocean County Library, we received flyers from the Ocean County Advisory Commission on the Status of Women promoting their 2009 contest to students from grades 1 - 12 in Ocean County. The Advisory Commission is asking students to "create a stamp recognizing women's leadership in protecting the environment on a local, state, or national level.. This can include women who have shown leadership in preserving the natural environment and reversing ecological destruction such as sceintists, engineers, business leaders, writers, filmaker, conservationist, teachers, community organizers, faithbased leaders or others whose lives show exceptional leadership to save our planet." Winners receive Visa Gift Cards and will have their stamps published in the Commission's 2009 resource and awareness publications. And there is more! For more information or for a flyer with complete contest rules, please call the Women's Commission Office at 732-506-5374.

College program at Toms River Library, Tuesday, November 18 at 6pm

How Will You Pay for Your Child’s College Education? Presented by Jim FosbreToms River Branch
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 6 pm or call 732-349-6200.

FREE help for parents and students! Confused and concerned about the high cost of a college education? Listen and learn from expert Jim Fosbre to help you through the Financial Aid Maze!
Sign in 6 - 6:30pm. Program starts promptly at 6:30 pm.

Assembly Bill 375: Raising Upper Age Limit of Compulsory School Attendance

Please be aware of this bill...the salient point being that this bill raises the requirement for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age, except for students who graduate from high school prior to their 17th birthday.

Status:
1/8/2008
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
5/12/2008
This bill was voted out of the Education Committee and referred to the Appropriations committee.

For a more complete background and action being requested go to:

http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/State/nj/2008/NJAB375/default.asp

Calls Needed Immediately to Block Restrictive Homeschool Bill

10/8/2008 4:49:18 PM
Home School Legal Defense Association New Jersey--
Follow Up--Call Immediately to Block Restrictive Homeschool Bill

======================================================================From From the HSLDA E-Alert Service..
======================================================================New New Jersey--Follow Up--Calls Needed Immediately to Block Restrictive Homeschool Bill

Dear HSLDA Members and Friends,We have received reports that some lawmakers have received hundreds of calls from you! Thank you! If you have not gotten through yet, please keep calling.However, please stop calls to Assemblyman Deignan. He has publicly stated that he opposes the bill. We deeply appreciate his willingness to stand up for what is right.Unity is of utmost importance in blocking this oppressive bill. The New Jersey homeschool task force is the most visible expression of homeschool unity in the state during this hour of need. The organizations and people of the task force have served homeschoolers for many years--decades in some cases. During a crisis like this, many well-intentioned people will offer advice, thinking they know what is best. Following task force recommendations, rather than those of others, however, will help us remain unified and powerful.You may hear rumors of awful things about to happen. Please take these lightly unless they come from the task force. For example, one unsubstantiated rumor that has made its rounds is that there is about to be a committee hearing on this bill. Not true. The members of the task force are staying highly alert, and we will let you know as promptly as possible if some new threat or urgency arises. At the same time, we do not know everything. If you obtain reliable information you think we need to know, please pass it on immediately.

The organizations of the New Jersey homeschool task force are: HSLDA, Catholic Homeschoolers of New Jersey (Kevin Kiernan), Eagle Forum of New Jersey (Carolee Adams), Education Network Of Christian Homeschoolers of New Jersey (Mark August), New Jersey Homeschool Association (Nan McVicker), and Unschoolers Network (Nancy Plent).Thank you for standing with us for freedom.Sincerely yours,Scott WoodruffHSLDA Staff Attorney

From HSLDA...

From the HSLDA site: http://www.hslda.org/elert/archive/2008/10/20081002140358.asp

This is only to prepare to take action. Please familiarize yourselves with this bill.

Assembly , No. A3123

FYI:

Please go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2008/Bills/A3500/3123_I1.HTM for information.

To find your district for letters and calls of opposition: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#32

And don't panic, be aware, take action - this kind of thing happens from time to time, we just need to remain vigilant and united. All will be well. Keep track of this at the Unschoolers Network site

An Invaluable Resource!

Are you taking advantage of the online resources that the Ocean County Library offers? Did you know that your library card allows you to access hundreds of reference books, educational worksheets and academic articles from your home computer?

You can find these resources on the “Find It” page by going to OCL’s Web site: www.theoceancountylibrary.org and double clicking on “Research and Info”. Once you are on the “Find It” page, you will find a list of topics on the left side—click on the topic of interest to find a description of the resources available in that area. For example, by clicking on “Education and Careers”, you can access thousands of scholarly articles in “Academic Search Premier”, hundreds of printable educational worksheets in the “Curriculum Resource Center” and hundreds of encyclopedias, almanacs and reference books on a wide variety of topics in the “Gale Virtual Reference Library”. Once you click on the title of the database, you will be asked to input your library card.

But why should you use these databases when it is so easy to find information on the Internet? The databases available through Ocean County Library will give you much better, more reliable information than any commercial search engine, without advertisements cluttering the page. To subscribe to these databases on your own would cost you thousands and thousands of dollars, but your tax dollars are already paying for the county subscription through the library. Take advantage of these resources today!

If anyone would like to attend a workshop on using these databases, there will be a special training session at the Toms River Branch on Thursday, October 23rd at 2 pm: The Library 24/7 At Your Home! Come and learn how to use the library databases; it’s like having a complete reference library at your fingertips at home, and it’s free! This particular workshop will be aimed at parents who are home schooling their children.
For ages 12 and up. Limit 20. Registration is required. Click on the live link above to register online or call 732-349-6200 to register by phone.

Borders has discount for educators, Oct. 3-5

Borders will offer 25% off to educators, including homeschoolers, from Friday, October 3rd till Sunday, October 5th. Go to http://www.borders.com/online/store/ArticleView_educators for information. If you have a home school I.D. I would suggest you bring it with you. The Borders stores I have shopped at here and on L.I. have been most accomodating.

Don't forget Bookfest!

In spite of Downtown Toms River's "Pizza, Pasta and Pastry" event being cancelled, the Ocean County Library's Bookfest is absolutely happening - we are just moving the whole event indoors. For info, go to http://theoceancountylibrary.org/HUH/bookfest.htm.

Bookfest will take place as scheduled between 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27. This event is free and there are programs for the whole family! There will be cooking demonstrations, activities for kids (I will be doing a "Gadgetology" program as well as making smoothies with the kids in the afternoon), sample tastings, cool stuff for teens, lots of authors and more.

A Taste of Ocean County: How Sweet It Is!

Toms River, NJ – Celebrate the Garden State at your local library! Learn about our state fruit the blueberry and our state insect the honeybee while sampling delicious treats. Ocean County Library Toms River Branch presents, A Taste of Ocean County: How Sweet It Is!—Blueberries & Bees: Discover New Jersey’s Wonder Fruit and Our Honeybee in honor of National Arts and Humanities Month.
Enjoy programs for the whole family at the Ocean County Library, Toms River Branch on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, from 4:00 to 9:00 pm.

The New Jersey Honeybee: What's all the buzz about - October 15, 2008 - 4:00 pm
Presented by Cecelia and Alf Berg, Apiarists, Herbertsville Honey
This fun, interactive workshop will take the audience into the world of the Honey bee.

Taste how sweet it is! - October 15, 2008 – 5:30 pm
Taste blueberries, honey, Jersey Blues™ Iced Tea, Häagen-Dazs® limited edition “Vanilla Honey Bee” Ice Cream and other sweet treats. Special thanks to library staff, Häagen-Dazs®, and Blueberry Health, Inc., Washington, NJ for their generous donations.

Blueberries – New Jersey's Wonder Fruit - October 15, 2008 – 7:00 pm
Presented by Judith Krall-Russo, Food Historian and Tea Specialist
Learn the history, health benefits and a variety of ways to prepare and savor these berries.

These programs are made possible by a grant the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

These programs are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Registration is required. Please register by calling 732-349-6200 or go to our web site at http://www.theoceancountylibrary.org/ and click Programs & News for the library’s events calendar.
CONTACT: Ocean County Library, 732-349-6200Meagan Toohey, mtoohey@theoceancountylibrary.orgValerie Haeder, vhaeder@theoceancountylibrary.org

Open House at the Brick Library

There will be an open house at the Brick branch on Thursday, September, 11th from 12:30 – 2pm. Please bring your used homeschool materials to swap or donate to other families. This worked really well at the last open house OCL held in Barnegat! This is a good opportunity to clean out those books and flash cards from our closets! There will be special tables set aside for these materials. If you are trying to find a support group or start up a “sub-group” of your own, this is your opportunity. I will also be presenting our library’s databases to you – they are invaluable as you school your children. If you have a computer at home, this is like having a reference library at your fingertips, 24/7!

Remember to register for library events at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call 732-349-6200 x5300. And always contact me with any questions!

Patchwork Theatre starting up again

I just received the following email with information for homeschooled students interested in theater:

"Patchwork Theatre meets every Wed from 3 to 5pm in Bayhead. It is a great group. We have been involved for 3 plays and looking forward to another year. Usually ages are 9 years old and up.
This is a commitment and the directors expect you to be there every week since we only meet once a week.
The cost is very low. Cost is usually the scripts, bringing snacks one or two times in the season, chip in for pizza and flowers near the end of the season. Sometimes you are asked to help with a costume. Parents are expected to help with something during the season.

We are getting a list of kids together so we can figure out a play. We are looking for actors and esp. CREW. Every part is important. Thanks. Phyllis - kiernanfamily7@netzero.net"

Victory for homeschoolers in California

"In a unanimous decision, the California Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District today ruled that “California statutes permit home schooling as a species of private school education.”

To read about the recent victory for homeschooling in California, check go to: http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/ca/200808080.asp

New website: Creating a Pollinator Garden

Once in a while I come across website that beg to be shared and this is one of them. Creating a Pollinator Garden is one of them. I received this through the Librarian's Internet Index (lii.org), so it has been checked to be a reliable source of info on the net, something all parents should be very concerned with. It teaches how to create a pollinator garden, what kinds of plants attract which kinds of helpful critters (i.e., did you know that bees prefer yellow, blue and purple flowers?). This website is sponsored by the National Gardening Association and gives curriculum ideas, related websites, articles and more. It may inspire some worthy and fun projects for your students.

New Choir for K-2nd Grade beginning...

Beginning September 2nd the Concordia Youth Chorale is starting a new choir for K - 2nd grade. The choir will meet on Tuesdays from 6 -7 PM at the Middletown Methodist Church, 924 Middletown-Lincroft Road. This is just south of Nut Swamp Road and Thompson Middle School.

The choir will provide beginning instruction in reading music and in how to sing. The choir will sing concerts in December, March and June along with the other 3 choirs of Concordia.

The choir will be under the direction of Suzanne Dalmazio. For further information please visit the Concordia web site at: www.concordiayouthchorale.org You can also e-mail Suzanne Dalmazio at: CaringFor8@aol.com

CATCH THE READING BUG! Summer Reading begins at the Ocean County Library!

"Catch the Reading Bug" is our theme for the summer reading program. We are really pushing online registration, which begins this Saturday. There are lots of great programs being presented by outside professionals, such as:

"Dancing, Drumming and Stories" presented by Playtivity

"Spiderella at the Ugly Bug Ball" presented by Once Upon a Dance

"The Buzz about Bees" by Rich Kaier of Apian Way Honey

Mr. Scott the Music Man

The Art of Mehndi

"DW is Coming" - meet the real DW from Arthur (Arthur Brown's sister)

Kit's Interactive Theatre presents "Mother Nature"

Insectropolis presents "Bugs on the Go"

And lots more - there is something going on everyday! Go online to check out our schedule: http://theoceancountylibrary.org/. Remember to register for all programs!

Subway discriminates against homeschoolers

By now you will have seen it all over the homeschool news - stuff like this travels at light speed through our community - that the Subway sandwich chain is having a contest that blatantly states, "no home school will be accepted." Though there were mispellings in the original ads, you can see that they have been corrected in this link to the actual contest.

To take action, . Send an e-mail to Subway President Frederick A. DeLuca. Tell him you will no longer patronize their shops they allow home schoolers to participate in this and future contests:
Frederick A. DeLuca, President Subway
Phone: 1-800-888-4848
Fax: 203-876-6695
E-Mail: Frederick A. DeLuca, Subway

2. Contact your local Subway store and give the manager the same message.

3. Please forward this to your friends and family, especially home schoolers

Music classes for kids

I want to highly recommend a summer music camp for kids that is being taught by a dear friend of mine, Grace Lewis, in Sea Girt. She has been teaching children for many years and has been my son's piano teacher for 10 (after he graduated Kindermusik). An accomplished musician and singer in her own right, Grace is magical with kids. The description of the class is as follows:

"Summer Music Camp for 4 to 7 year olds being offered July 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18th from 9 -11 a.m. The theme is 'Music Around the World.'
Music around the world takes the child on an imaginary trip - exploring the exotic cultures of Germany, Japan, Africa, England and Mexico. Activities incorporate music, dance, drama, and intruments native to each country as well as arts and crafts such as making decorative African masks and Mexican pinatas." Please call her for additional information: 732-449-0830

Calls needed to stop expansion of government control over homeschoolers!

This just came through a few email lists that I am on....

It takes only a moment to make a phone call.

Your calls are needed to defend parental freedom against three bills that are under consideration in the Assembly Education Committee. These bills aim to expand state control over young people by expanding the compulsory school attendance age.

Assembly Bill 375 would raise the age of compulsory school attendance from age 16 to 17. Assembly Bill 1209 and Assembly Bill 1759 both would raise the age from 16 to 18.

Parents alone know whether it's best for their 16- and 17-year-olds to stay in a formal education setting or follow some other path. The government cannot know the needs of individual students. One size does not fit all when it comes to school attendance.

ACTION REQUESTED:

Please contact the members of the Assembly Education Committee immediately and express your opposition to these bills. Your message can be as simple as:

"Please oppose Assembly Bills 375, 1209, and 1759. These costly bills will force unwilling, unmotivated older teens to remain in classrooms where they will cause disruption. Protect the right of parents to decide what educational or vocational path their 16- and 17-year-olds should follow."

It is not necessary to identify yourself as a homeschooling family, since these bills undermine the rights of all parents. If your name begins with A-G, call group 1. If it begins with H-M, call group 2. If O-S, call group 3. T-Z call group 4. Also, call your own assemblyman, if he is listed below, regardless of what group he is in. (Use our Legislative Toolbox if you don't know the name of your assemblyman: http://www.hslda.org/toolbox ).

Group 1

Cryan, Joseph - Chair (908) 624-0880

Voss, Joan M. - Vice-Chair (201) 346-6400

Diegnan, Patrick J. (908) 757-1677

Group 2

Handlin, Amy H. (732) 787-1170

Jasey, Mila M. (973) 762-1886

Malone, Joseph R. (609) 298-6250

Group 3

Moriarty, Paul D. (856) 232-6700

Pou, Nellie (973) 247-1555

Ramos, Ruben J. (201) 714-4960

Group 4

Rumana, Scott T. (973) 237-1362

Vas, Joseph (732) 324-5955

Wolfe, David W. (732) 840-9028

BACKGROUND

>You may be told this legislation does not affect homeschooling. It does. It would subject homeschool families to additional years of government mandates with respect to family education. >You may be told students who graduate are exempt. This is correct, but it does not turn these bad bills into good bills. They destroy parental freedom and control with respect to 16- and 17-year olds who have not graduated.

> Raising the compulsory attendance age will not reduce the dropout rate. Some of states with the lowest completion rates compel attendance to age 18.

> Twenty-eight states only require attendance to age 16. Older children unwilling to learn can cause classroom disruptions and even violence, making learning harder for their classmates who truly want to learn.

> Mandating attendance until age 17 or 18 would restrict parents' freedom to decide if their 16 or 17-year-old is ready for college or the work force. Some 16- or 17-year-olds who are not academically inclined benefit more from valuable work experience than from being forced to sit in a classroom.

>Another significant impact of expanding the compulsory attendance age would be an inevitable tax increase to pay for more classroom space and teachers to accommodate the additional students compelled to attend public school.

For more information on compulsory attendance, please see our memorandum at http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=3623 .

Thank you for standing with us for freedom.

Sincerely Yours,

Scott Woodruff
HSLDA Staff Attorney

Free Guides for Homeschoolers

There are free guides for homeschoolers available online at http://homeschoolersguides.com/. You can download the PDF file from there and save a tree. These guides are helpful, but, of course not comprehensive. They include "Great Field Trip Sites and Family Vacations" which includes various locations around the country but concentrates on the East Coast. There is also "Homeschool Friendly Colleges and Business Schools", and "Pocket Homeschool Fair" that lists curriculum products. The vendors/businesses are paying to advertise and so these are provided to homeschoolers free of charge. I will be giving them out to families that attend my library programs, but anyone can send for these on their own. Their contact info is:
Homeschoolers Guides
231 Hillcrest Avenue, Clarks Summit, PA 18411
ph: 570-585-1214 fax: 570-585-1214
homeschoolersguide@yahoo.com.

Keeping up

How people keep up with their blogs is a mystery to me. What other things have they given up to find time to post? Meals? Sleep? The former I could stand to give up; I refust to give up the latter! Anyway, here I am two weeks after a fabulous open house in Barnegat writing to say what a success it was and that I look forward to doing it again. The library continues to reach out to homeschoolers to see how we can best meet their needs. As a result of the last open house, there is going to be a database training class for homeschoolers and their parents (and anyone else in the public who may be interested) in the Barnegat Branch on June 11. While the lack of a computer lab prevents this from being a hands-on program, it promises to provide lots of vital information to those who attend. The library's databases are a wealth of information that may be accessed 24/7 and continues to be both one of our greatest resources and best-kept secrets! (not by our intent - we are trying to get the word out)

Hmmm...I am trying to decide where to have the next open house...

Prom time!

I know this is late, but there is still time...

http://www.njspringprom.com/

I have known people who have attended this in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it. If your group is not large enough to hold a prom of their own, this is the way to go!

Local production features many homeschooled children

Patchwork theater presents Peter Pan.
Dates: Friday, April 4th @ 7pm
Sat., April 5th @ 1pm
Price: $5.00 for Adults and $3.00 per child (pay at the door)
Location: SACRED HEART CHURCH, 751 MAIN STREET, BAY HEAD, NJ

Come and support this production - many of the young stars are homeschooled students! Patchwork has been doing shows for many years now and they do a beautiful job!

From West:
Take I-195 E to Exit 35A (Route 34 South)Continue on Route 34South - crossover Route 70 -Route 34 South becomes Route 35 SouthGo about 4.6 miles and Route 35 Southwhich becomes Main Street in Bay Head.Sacred Heart Church on right, parking lot in rear
From North:
New Jersey turnpike to Exit 11 WoodbridgeFollow sign for Garden State Parkway SouthFollow the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98.Follow sign for Route 34 South - cross over Route 70 -Route 34 South becomes Route 35 SouthStay on Route 35 South for about 4.6 milesPassing through Point Pleasant right into Bay Head Route 35 South becomes Main Street in Bay Head.Sacred Heart Church is on the right, parking lot in rear.
From South:
Take the Garden State Parkway North to Exit 90follow exit ramp heading towards Brick.This brings you onto Route 549/Chambers Bridge Roadfor about 1.6 miles. Cross over Route 70 and continueacross to 2nd traffic light which is Mantoloking Road.Turn left onto Mantoloking Road. Continue goingstraight, crossing over Mantoloking Bridge.At end of Mantoloking Road turn left onto Ocean Avenue (Route 35 North). Continue on Route 35 North (becomes Main street in Bay Head).Sacred Heart Church is on left, parking in rear.

Reminder about Open House

Just a reminder…an Open House for Homeschoolers in Ocean County will be held at the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library on Wednesday, April 9 from 12:30 – 2:30 pm. Come and meet other homeschoolers and check out information on homeschooling. The theme for this event is “Book Swap.” Bring your used homeschooling materials to swap with others. Light refreshments will be served and there will be a story time at 1 pm for the younger children.

Please register either online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call the Barnegat Branch at 609-698-3331.

If you are a group leader, please pass this email on to your group. Thanks to all – I hope to see you there!

Border's Educator's Savings Days

Remember that Border's Educator's Savings Days are April 2nd to 12th. Go to http://www.bordersmedia.com/educators/. All you need to do is tell the cashier you are a homeschooler and you may receive the discount. Any questions, you may copy and print out this letter from Karen Landers, the Interim Senior Marketing Manager:


Dear Homeschooler,
Happy Spring!
Wow – just a week until the start of Borders Educator Savings Days, April 2 – 8!

During the week you’ll save 25% off the list price of books, CDs, DVDs and more*

We hope to see you for all the savings and festivities.
Join us at a SPECIAL RECEPTION at Borders’ stores**
Friday, April 4 from 4:00-8:00 PM
Food – Fun – Prizes!


*Certain exclusions apply. Cannot be combined with any other offer, including but not limited to “3 for 2,” “Buy 3, Get 4th Free,” “Buy 4 Get 5th Free,” of “Buy 1, Get 1 Half Price” offers.
Excludes previous and online purchases, gift cards, periodicals, comics, non-stock special orders, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, Rosetta Stone ® software, shipping,
and all electronics, including the Sony ® Reader and the Zune TM. Also excludes all Dean and DeLuca ® and Starbucks ® café items and products.
May not be combined with coupons, sale pricing, or corporate, classroom or other group discounts.
** Receptions not held at Borders Express or Waldenbooks.


Please share this link: http://www.bordersmedia.com/educators with fellow homeschoolers, friends and family.
Borders Educator Savings event applies to ALL educators, current and retired, and ALL grade levels.
If you want to be removed from my emails – just hit reply, type ‘Remove” in the subject line and I’ll delete your email address.

All my best,
Karen

Karen Landers
Interim Senior Marketing Manager
Borders Group Inc.
856.985.8909 FAX 856.985.3023
515 Rt. 73 South, Marlton, NJ 08053

Ultimate Family Expo, March 29th!

Come to the Ritacco Center on March 29th for the "Ultimate Family Expo". The Ocean County Library will have a table there all day and I will be manning the table from 1-6 in the afternoon. I have never attended one of these but I hear they are fun for the kids, tons of stuff to do (we will be making simple origami butterflies at our table).

Family Week at the Theater

The New Jersey Theatre Alliance celebrates Family Week at the Theatre from March 8-16. For Information, go to www.familyweek.com and for tickets go to www.njArtsTix.org

Free Performance by George Street Playhouse...

To celebrate 2008 Family Week, the George Street Playhouse will present "New Kid" by Dennis Foon on Thursday, March 27th at 3:15pm (doors open at 2:45) at the Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School, 1200 Bay Boulevard, Seaside Heights. This is a story of an immigrant family from a fictitious place called Homeland and is a free fully-staged theatrical event.

This is being brought to you by the Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library. Families are invited to attend! Grades K-8 with adults - bring a grown-up! Register online at www.theoceancountylibrary.org or call 732-793-3996.

Upper Shores Branch of OCL to have Conversational Spanish Group

Mondays, April 5th and 12th at 1 pm - Conversational Spanish Group
Spoken Spanish is all around us. Let’s get on board! Please join a new weekly group whose purpose is to practice speaking Spanish! There will be a group leader whose first language is Spanish, and other participants at varying levels of ability ranging from beginner to advanced intermediate. A different topic will be focused on each week to keep the conversation rolling. All interested teens and adults are welcome, so even if you have no previous experience but would like to attend as a listener, you can join in the conversation once you’re comfortable! Register online at the Ocean County Library website: http://theoceancountylibrary.org/ or call: 732-793-3996.

Open House for Home schoolers to be held at Barnegat Branch of the OCL

The Ocean County Library is having another open house for home schooling families: “Get Connected: Open House for Home Schoolers” will be held at the Barnegat Branch of the Ocean County Library on Wednesday, April 9th from 12:30 to 2:30. Come and meet other homeschoolers from around Ocean County. The theme for this one is “Book Swap” – bring your used (in good condition) homeschool materials that you may want to pass on to others. We will have tables set up where you can display these items. Anything that doesn’t go can be taken home, or the library can put them out on their sale shelf to raise money for the library. Light refreshments will be served. Note: there will be a story time at 1 pm for pre-school age children.

Remember to register at http://theoceancountylibrary.org/ or call 609-698-3331. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the number or email below. The link for directions, etc. is http://www.oceancounty.lib.nj.us/Branches/BGT/bgt.htm. Hope to see you there!

RE: What about programs for home schoolers in other library branches?

I am often asked by homeschoolers that I meet from other areas in Ocean County (besides Toms River) if any programs will be starting up at their libraries [note the question in my last post]. This is a very good question and very common. While I can and do suggest it to my colleagues, I think it is important that they hear from you so they know there is a need in their own community - let them know that you homeschool and that you would be interested in a daytime book discussion for your children (the ones that are too old for the pre-K programs, say 6 and up). Librarians are very open to hearing new ideas for programs and I have had so much support from fellow staff members in serving our homeschool population.

At the same time, you have to realize that librarians have a myriad of responsibilities that are not always apparent to the public. And some of our smaller branches may only have one or two children's librarians to do everything. For programs to succeed, they need to be planned and put on the calendar months in advance (here it is mid-March and we already have to get our summer schedule finalized).

So talk to your children and/or teen librarians, let them know that you homeschool and that a book discussion would be a valued program at your local library. Then be willing to spread the word among your fellow home schoolers so these programs are well attended. The number of children attending my homeschool book discussion group has doubled since beginning in January - once the word gets out that there is a need, home school library programs will be a regularly scheduled item. But as homeschoolers, we may have to get the ball rolling.

READY TO RE-LAUNCH!!!

Okay, homeschoolers, after finishing grad school in December I was a tad burnt out - actually, I was fried and could not muster enough energy to even keep up a blog. Those who have been there know what I mean. BUT, now I am feeling better, spring is around the corner and some new energy is beginning to flood my tired veins...so let me try this again...

I have been working in the Ocean County Library system while earning my MLIS degree, but now I am officially a Youth Services librarian with the Ocean County Library in Toms River. I love my job and the fact that I have been able to continue to outreach to homeschoolers. Many of you know that I am a homeschooler myself...I should use the past tense here though, since our son is 16 and teaches himself now. Isn't that the goal we all have for our children - that they become self-motivated learners?

Right now at the library we have a Homespun Book Discussion group for homeschoolers that meets in the Toms River Branch the second Wednesday of each month. It is for children ages 6 and up and this month we are doing the third book in the Magic Tree house series, Mummies in the Morning. Registration is necessary...go to http://theoceancountylibrary.org/.

And I am also planning another Open House for Homeschoolers in Ocean County on April 9th at the Barnegat Branch. Watch for details! More to come soon...