Homeschool benefits and savings in Akron and Summit County
An Akron-Summit County Public Library Educator Card lets you borrow up to 150 items at a time for six weeks each, three times the 14-day loan on a regular card. Homeschool parents qualify by bringing a current district homeschool verification letter, a photo ID, and proof of address to any of the library's 19 locations.
Who qualifies
Teaches in a homeschool setting
The card is for anyone who teaches or works with students in a Pre-K-12 school, licensed child care center, or homeschool setting.
Has a district verification letter
A homeschool parent shows a current district homeschool verification letter as proof of educator status. Library staff ask for it again every year.
Brings ID and address proof
Bring a current photo ID, plus proof of your current address if your ID does not show it. Regular library cards require Ohio residency.
Borrows for teaching only
Educator Cards may not be used to borrow items for personal use, so keep your own card for family reading.
What the card gives you
The limits come from the library's Educator Card policy and its borrowing policy for regular cards.
- Items out on the Educator Card
- 150
- DVDs and Blu-rays within that limit
- 30
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) kits
- 3
- Book sets
- 2
- Educator loan period
- 6 weeks
- Regular card book loan
- 14 days
Educator loans cannot be renewed, and the card is blocked once billed items for long-overdue materials reach $150.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather three documents
Bring a current photo ID, proof of address if your ID is out of date, and your current district homeschool verification letter.
- At any location
Sign up in person
Any of the library's 19 locations can issue the Educator Card.
- Each checkout
Return within six weeks
There are no renewals.
- Each year
Show proof again
Library staff check your educator status annually, so bring your new district homeschool letter each school year.
What it includes
Included
- Books, audiobooks, and magazines
- Up to 30 DVDs and Blu-rays
- Up to 3 STEM kits
- Up to 2 book sets
Not included
- Renewals
- Items borrowed for personal use
Good to know
Educator loans cannot be renewed
The six-week educator loan period has no renewals, so return items and check them out again if you still need them.
The Educator Card is not for personal reading
The policy says Educator Cards may not be used to borrow library items for personal use. Use your regular card, which lends most items for 14 days with up to five renewals.
Who to contact about the card
Main Library staff at 60 South High Street in Akron answer questions about library cards and borrowing.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Ohio
You must notify the resident district superintendent within five calendar days after beginning home education, moving into a district, or withdrawing from school, and notify annually by August 30.
Ohio sets these rules:
- Subjects: Provide instruction in English language arts, mathematics, science, history, government, and social studies.
- Testing: Ohio's current home-education law does not require an annual standardized test or academic assessment filing.
- Records: Keep copies of each notice and the superintendent's acknowledgment; the state does not require a routine portfolio submission.
- Teachers: Ohio's current home-education statute does not impose the former diploma-or-supervision requirement.
Read the Ohio homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Ohio
Questions parents ask
- What happens if items go missing?
- Long-overdue items are billed to you, and you pay to replace them. Once billed items total $150, the card is blocked.
- Do I need to reapply every year?
- No, but you show proof of educator status each year. Bring your current district homeschool verification letter to keep the card active.
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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