Homeschool benefits and savings in the Anderson and Madison County library district
Anderson Public Library issues a homeschool student card, good until August 31, to homeschooled children who live in the unserved parts of Richland and Jackson townships and are schooled in a building inside the library district; families living in the district get a free resident card. Cardholders use a homeschool collection, librarian-pulled custom collections, homeschool programs, and group tours.
Who qualifies
Lives in an unserved area
The homeschool card is for students living in unserved parts of Madison County, meaning parts of Richland and Jackson townships. Families in Anderson City or Anderson, Stony Creek, or Union townships get a free resident card instead.
Is schooled inside the district
Your child must receive all or part of their schooling in a facility or building within the Anderson Public Library district, and you provide proof of that schooling.
Shows ID and address
A parent brings current photo ID and proof of address, and the child comes along. Students 14 and older can apply alone with photo ID, proof of address, and proof of schooling in the district.
What the card gives you
The terms come from Anderson Public Library's homeschool resources page and its Library Card Policy, revised February 18, 2026.
- Homeschool collection
- Call numbers 371.04A-371.04S
- Custom collection pulled by a librarian
- On request
- Normal loan period
- 28 days
- Homeschool student card
- Expires Aug. 31
- Resident card
- Free, 3 years
- Replacement card
- $2.00
Borrowing stops with any overdue item or more than $10.00 in fees, so return custom collections on time.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather proof
Bring a parent's current photo ID, proof of your address, and proof that your child is schooled in a building inside the library district.
- Online or in person
Apply for the card
Apply at the Main Library, the Lapel Branch, or online. Allow 48 to 72 hours, and pick up the card in person within 14 days.
- During the year
Request custom collections
Ask a librarian to pull materials on a topic for your child's age and place the collection on hold.
- Each August 31
Renew the card
Homeschool student cards expire August 31, and you renew with the same documents as a new card.
What it includes
Included
- Homeschool collection on the 2nd Mezzanine
- Custom collections pulled by a librarian
- Homeschool and family programs
- Library tours for homeschool groups
Not included
- Family cards (every card is individual)
- Borrowing with an overdue item on the account
Good to know
Residents use the free resident card
Residents of Anderson City and Anderson, Stony Creek, and Union townships get a free resident card that lasts three years.
Who to contact about the card
Main Library staff at 111 East 12th Street issue cards and prepare custom collections for homeschool families.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Indiana
No state registration or homeschool number is required. On withdrawal, notify the school in writing. For a high-school student, a parent or guardian must also sign the Withdrawal to Non-Accredited Non-public School Located in Indiana form.
Indiana sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide 180 days of instruction and instruction equivalent to public schools; state law does not define equivalency, and public-school curriculum rules do not apply.
- Testing: Indiana does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: Indiana requires you to keep attendance records.
- Teachers: Indiana does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Indiana also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Indiana Education Scholarship Account pays about 90% of state tuition support, for students with a qualifying disability or an eligible sibling. Once enrolled, your child is no longer an independent homeschool student, and the money stays in ClassWallet for approved costs.
Read the Indiana homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Indiana
Questions parents ask
- Can my teenager get an Anderson library card without me?
- Yes. Homeschooled students 14 and older can get a card on their own by showing photo ID, proof of address, and proof of schooling within the library district.
- What is a custom collection?
- A librarian pulls materials on a topic you choose for any age group. You can place the collection on hold and the library tells you when it is ready.
- Can one card cover all my children?
- No. Anderson Public Library has no family cards; each child needs an individual card, and a parent must be present when a child under 14 receives one.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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