Homeschool benefits: Harford County Public Library
Harford County Public Library's Homeschool Hub gathers free help for homeschool families: LEAP learning kits, nature backpacks, mobile hotspots, Brainfuse HelpNow tutoring, test prep, and homeschool meetups. A library card is free for any Maryland resident, and the library charges no overdue fines.
Harford County Public Library homeschool hub
Who qualifies
Lives in Maryland
The first library card is free for all Maryland residents with no age limit. Families outside Maryland pay $10 a year for a child's card and $30 for an adult's.
Brings a photo ID
Show a photo ID with your current mailing address. A parent or guardian signs for a cardholder under 18.
Uses an adult card for hotspots
Mobile hotspots are limited to one per adult card, so you borrow them on your own card rather than your child's.
What the card gives you
Harford County Public Library's card policies list loan periods and borrowing maximums for each material type.
- Books and most items
- No item limit, 21 days
- LEAP kits (Little Leapers, Music, Science)
- 2 per card
- Nature backpack kits
- 1 per card
- Mobile hotspots
- 1 per adult card
- Automatic renewals
- Up to 3
- Overdue fines
- None
Lost items cost the item price plus a $5.00 processing fee, and borrowing is blocked once fees reach $10.
How to use the hub
- At any branch
Get a card
Bring a photo ID with your address, or fill out the application form at home and return it to any branch.
- Online
Reserve kits and books
Place reserves on most circulating items in the catalog, and the library emails or calls when they are ready.
- Through the year
Join homeschool programs
Browse the events calendar for Homeschool Connect programs and middle and high school homeschool meetups.
- Any time
Ask a librarian
Librarians can find materials for your curriculum, build reading lists, and schedule a library tour for your homeschool group.
What it includes
Included
- LEAP science, math, literacy, and music kits
- Nature backpacks and STEM kits
- Mobile hotspots
- Brainfuse HelpNow tutoring
- Test prep for the SAT, ACT, and GED
Not included
- Hotspots on a child's card
- Adult DVDs for borrowers under 14
Who to contact about homeschool resources
Librarians answer questions about homeschool materials, kits, programs, and group tours through the library's contact form or at any branch.
Harford County Public Library Lewis Museum pass
Who qualifies
Has an adult library card
The pass is limited to one per adult library card, so reserve it on a parent's card.
Lives in Maryland
Harford County Public Library cards are free for Maryland residents; families outside Maryland pay an annual fee.
Reserves the pass
Reserve the Lewis Museum pass through the library catalog.
What the pass gives you
Harford County Public Library's museum pass page and borrowing limits describe the Lewis Museum pass.
- Free visits per pass
- 3 within one year
- Adults per visit
- 2
- Youth ages 7-17 per visit
- 4
- Children 6 and under
- Always free
- Passes per adult card
- 1
- Card cost for Maryland residents
- Free
The museum is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so call 443-263-1800 to confirm hours before you go.
How to use the pass
- Before you go
Get a library card
A parent signs up at any Harford County branch with a photo ID showing a current address.
- In the catalog
Reserve the pass
Place a reserve on the Reginald F. Lewis Museum pass with your adult card.
- On visit day
Visit the museum
The museum is at 830 East Pratt Street in Baltimore, open Monday and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
- Within one year
Use all three visits
The pass covers up to three visits within one year.
What it includes
Included
- Admission for two adults
- Admission for four youth ages 7-17
Not included
- Parking
- Visits on Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Who to contact about the pass
Library staff answer questions about reserving and using the museum pass.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Maryland
You must submit the prescribed consent form to the local superintendent at least 15 days before starting. District-supervised families verify continuation before each school year and report status changes. A qualifying nonpublic supervisor reports continuing enrollment and status changes to the district.
Maryland sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide regular, thorough instruction of sufficient duration in English, math, science, social studies, art, music, health, and PE. A qualifying nonpublic-supervised program must provide regular, thorough instruction in the usual public-school studies.
- Testing: State standardized testing is voluntary. District-supervised programs have portfolio reviews at semester ends, with no more than three reviews per school year.
- Records: For district supervision, keep instructional materials and work samples demonstrating required instruction; college report cards or transcripts may substitute for those courses. Qualifying nonpublic supervision follows COMAR’s separate requirements.
- Teachers: No state teaching credential required for the parent providing home instruction.
Read the Maryland homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Maryland
Questions parents ask
- Do we need to be enrolled in a school to use the Homeschool Hub?
- No. The hub is built for Harford County homeschooling families, and every resource on it works with a regular library card.
- What Harford library tutoring is available for older students?
- Middle and high school students can use Brainfuse HelpNow for tutoring and homework help, plus LearningExpress and Peterson's for test prep and skill building.
- Can a homeschool family use the Lewis Museum pass?
- Yes. The pass is a library service tied to an adult card, with no school enrollment requirement, so it works well for a homeschool field trip.
- We have five children. Does the Lewis Museum pass cover them all?
- It depends on their ages. Each visit covers up to four youth ages 7-17, and children 6 and under are always free and do not count against the four.
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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