Homeschool benefits and savings in Bradley County
Bradley County residents get their first Cleveland Bradley County Public Library card free, with up to 25 books for 21 days, plus an eCard that opens e-books, World Book Online, and language courses such as Rocket Languages. A homeschool family qualifies by living in Bradley County; no school enrollment is needed.
Who qualifies
Lives in Bradley County
The free card is for Bradley County residents. Neighboring county residents can buy an out-of-county card for $15 per person each year.
Shows ID and two address proofs
For a physical card, bring a valid picture ID and two recent proofs of address, such as a bill, voter registration, or car registration, to the Main Library.
Has a parent with a card
Children 0-17 get a standard card only with a parent or guardian who also has a card and takes responsibility for it.
Teens 14-17 with a student ID
A teen with a valid student ID can get a student card without a parent, limited to two physical items plus online collections.
What the card gives you
The limits come from the library's 2025 Public Policies and Procedures and its library card page.
- Books per card
- 25 for 21 days
- Audiobooks on CD per card
- 5 for 21 days
- Parent Resource Center items
- 5 per household
- DVDs and Blu-rays
- 6 per household
- eCard access to e-books and databases
- Free
- Replacement card
- $4.00
Books cost $0.10 a day when overdue, up to $6 per item, and fines or overdue items above the library's limits can block borrowing.
How to get the card
- Online, any time
Register for an eCard
Fill out the library's online eCard form, and allow up to a week for processing.
- With your eCard
Use online resources
Use e-books and audiobooks through Libby, World Book Online, Rocket Languages, Transparent Language Online, and the other 24/7 databases.
- At the Main Library
Get a physical card
Bring a picture ID and two recent proofs of address to 795 Church Street NE to get a physical card or convert your eCard.
- Each checkout
Return or renew
Books are due in 21 days and can be renewed twice; new fiction and DVDs are due in 7 days.
What it includes
Included
- Books, audiobooks, and DVDs
- E-books and audiobooks through Libby
- World Book Online
- Language courses through Rocket Languages and Transparent Language
- Parent Resource Center materials
Not included
- Replacement cards
- Overdue fines
- Postage charges on some interlibrary loans
Good to know
The first card is free for county residents
All Bradley County residents get their first card free, and the library does not ask about school enrollment.
Who to contact about the card
The circulation desk at the Main Library handles library cards, eCards, and account questions.
circulation@clevelandlibrary.org 423-472-2163 Get a library card
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Tennessee
For independent homeschools, file a notice with the local education agency before each school year. A first-time filing may be made at any time during the school year; there is no fixed August 1 deadline.
Tennessee sets these rules:
- Subjects: Independent homeschool parents select and identify their curriculum and provide at least four hours of instruction per day for 180 days each year. Church-related schools set their own program requirements.
- Testing: Testing in grades 5, 7, and 9 for registered independent homeschools.
- Records: Independent homeschool parents keep attendance records, permit inspection, and submit them at year end. Maintain grades, transcripts, student records, and copies of final diplomas; provide required test results to the recipients specified in the current testing rule.
- Teachers: An independent homeschool parent-teacher needs a high-school diploma or equivalent. Church-related umbrella schools set their own enrollment and parent requirements.
Tennessee also has an education savings account that home-educated students can use.
- The Individualized Education Account pays a student with a qualifying disability and an active IEP the state and special-education funding for their district, including an independently homeschooled student. Most students must have spent the prior year in a Tennessee public school, and 2026-27 applications are closed.
Read the Tennessee homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Tennessee
Questions parents ask
- My homeschooled teen has no student ID. Can they get their own Cleveland Bradley library card?
- Only a standard card that you sign for. The student card for ages 14-17 requires a valid student ID, so without one your teen gets a standard card when you, as a parent with a library card, sign for it.
- What can we use with only an eCard?
- An eCard opens all of the library's online collections, including e-books and the 24/7 databases. Bring ID and address proof to the Main Library if you later want to borrow physical items.
- We live just outside Bradley County. Can we still join?
- Yes. Regular patrons from neighboring counties can buy an out-of-county card, physical or eCard, for $15 per person each year.
- Can we borrow books from other libraries?
- Yes. Interlibrary loan takes about two weeks, and you may pay a postage or shipping charge per book.
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.
Find benefits for your ZIP code