Homeschool benefits: Daviess County Library
Daviess County Library's homeschool loan group lets you borrow 25 items at a time for 28 days, compared with a 14-day loan for regular patrons. Cards are free to Daviess County residents and property owners; you sign a short form verifying that you homeschool under Missouri law.
Who qualifies
Daviess County resident or owner
Bring a photo ID showing a Daviess County address, or a photo ID plus official mail, a rent agreement, or a tax receipt. Out-of-county families can buy a $20 yearly card.
Verifies homeschooling
The homeschooling adult signs and dates the library's Home Schooling Verification form, stating that you homeschool under Section 167.031 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri (RSMo).
Gives references
List one reference contact, or two if you have lived in Daviess County less than five years.
Finishes the new member period
New cardholders can check out 2 items during a 90-day New Member status before moving to full lending terms.
What the homeschool group gives you
The limits come from the lending table on the library's card page and its lending policy, Section A5.
- Items out at once
- 25
- Loan period
- 28 days
- Renewal period
- 14 days
- Items you can hold or reserve
- 25
- Grace period before fines
- 6 days
- Regular patron limit, for comparison
- 24 items, 14 days
The lending policy lists homeschool fines at $0.01 a day per item, and an item still out 60 days after checkout is declared lost and billed at its retail price.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather ID and references
Bring a photo ID, proof of your Daviess County address, and your reference contacts.
- At either library
Apply and sign the verification
Apply in person in Gallatin or at the Jamesport Branch, and ask to be placed in the homeschool loan group.
- First 90 days
New Member status
You can borrow 2 items at a time until the library moves your card to regular status.
- Each checkout
Return or renew in 28 days
Homeschool loans run 28 days and can be renewed for 14 more. Renew online or by contacting the library.
What it includes
Included
- General collection books and audiobooks
- Holds on up to 25 items
- Up to two interlibrary loans at a time
Not included
- Electronic devices during the New Member period
- Interlibrary loan during the New Member period
- Lost item charges
Good to know
Sign the Home Schooling Verification form to join
Get a library card in person and sign the Home Schooling Verification form, which states that you homeschool under Section 167.031 RSMo. The library then lends to you under the homeschool group limits.
Out-of-county families can borrow
Out-of-county cards cost $20 a year. The library card page does not say whether out-of-county cardholders can join the homeschool group, so ask when you apply.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff in Gallatin issue cards, set up homeschool borrowing, and handle renewals.
daviesslibrarydirector@gmail.com 660-663-3250 Library card page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Missouri
No annual homeschool registration required. If withdrawing from public school, a written notice requesting removal from its rolls documents the change.
Missouri sets these rules:
- Subjects: For students under 16, offer at least 1,000 hours of instruction: 600 in reading, language arts, math, social studies, science, or related courses, including 400 at the regular homeschool location. The statutory hours and recordkeeping rules do not apply at age 16 or older.
- Testing: Missouri does not require standardized testing for homeschoolers.
- Records: For students under 16, keep a subject and activity record, a work-sample portfolio, and progress evaluations, or equivalent written or credible evidence.
- Teachers: No state teaching-license or degree requirement for a homeschool instructor.
Read the Missouri homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Missouri
Questions parents ask
- Can my child have a card too?
- Yes. A child under 18 needs a parent's or guardian's signature, and the parent is responsible for materials checked out on the child's card.
- What happens if we keep books too long?
- After a six-day grace period, the lending policy charges $0.01 a day per item for the homeschool group. At 60 days from checkout, the item is declared lost and you pay its retail price.
- Is there an online-only option?
- Yes. Daviess County residents can sign up for a free e-card in the library catalog for digital resources only, with the card number sent by email.
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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