Homeschool benefits and savings in Memphis and Shelby County
A free Memphis Public Libraries card gives your child research databases such as PebbleGo and World Book, Libby e-books, always-available STEM e-books, and Book Bundles that librarians pick to match your child's interests. Residents of Memphis, Lakeland, and unincorporated Shelby County get the card free, and school enrollment is not required. Other options include transit fare savings.
Benefits in Memphis and Shelby County
- Memphis Public Libraries learning resources
- Memphis Public Libraries homeschool educator card
- MATA Zero Fare Pilot
Memphis Public Libraries learning resources
Who qualifies
Lives in the service area
Nearby Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi residents can pay $50 a year in person.
A parent signs for minors
Parents can apply online for children 17 and under, and for a card at the desk a parent shows ID and signs the application.
Shows ID for physical items
An online card number covers e-resources. To borrow physical items, bring ID showing your current address to any branch.
What the card gives you
The terms come from Memphis Public Libraries' children's resources, Book Bundles, and library card pages.
- Book Bundle picked by a children's librarian
- Free
- World Book eBooks and STEM e-books
- Always available
- Physical items on a standard card
- 25
- Book loan period
- 21 days
- Overdue fines
- None
- Out-of-area card
- $50 a year
Online-only card numbers cover e-resources and public computers for two years; borrowing physical items, including a Book Bundle, needs ID shown at a branch.
How to get started
- Online
Get a card number
Apply online for your child if they are 17 or under, or your teen 13 or older can apply.
- At any branch
Show ID for full borrowing
Bring a Tennessee ID with your current address, or two listed documents, to check out physical items.
- Any time
Request a Book Bundle
Fill out the Book Bundle form, and librarians place books matched to your child's interests on hold and notify you when they are ready.
What it includes
Included
- PebbleGo for grades K-2
- Gale in Context Elementary and Middle School
- World Book Kids, Student, and Discover
- Transparent Language, including KidSpeak
- Libby e-books, audiobooks, and magazines
Not included
- Replacement cost of unreturned items
Who to contact about library resources
LINC at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library answers general questions, and the Ask a Question service handles questions online.
Memphis Public Libraries homeschool educator card
Who qualifies
Teaches at home
Teachers, day care workers, and home-school teachers are eligible for an Educator Library Card.
Lives in the service area
Cards are free for residents and property owners in Memphis, Lakeland, and unincorporated Shelby County. Others can pay $50 a year in person.
Shows ID with your address
Bring a Tennessee driver's license or state ID with your current address, or two listed documents such as a utility bill and voter registration card.
What the card gives you
The limits come from Memphis Public Libraries' schools and educators page and its loan period table.
- Physical items on an Educator Card
- 50
- Physical items on a standard card
- 25
- Books
- 21 days, 2 renewals
- Entertainment DVDs
- 7 days
- Card cost in the service area
- Free
- Card renewal
- Every 2 years
You are billed the cost of any item you do not return, and owing $15 or more stops new checkouts.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather documents
Bring ID with your current address, and ask what proof the library wants that you teach at home.
- At any branch
Ask for an Educator Card
Library staff set up the Educator Library Card at the desk.
- While you teach
Borrow and place holds
Check out up to 50 physical items and place multiple holds on the same title for group lessons.
- Every two years
Renew the card
Cards in the service area are renewed every two years at no charge.
What it includes
Included
- Up to 50 physical items at once
- Multiple holds on the same title
- Parent/Teacher Collection, including homeschooling manuals
Not included
- Replacement cost of unreturned items
- Free cards outside the service area
Who to contact about the card
Circulation at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library answers questions about library cards and accounts.
MATA Zero Fare Pilot
Who qualifies
Any MATA rider
The pilot lets all passengers ride MATA services at no cost, with no age, school, or income test.
MATAplus riders stay registered
Paratransit riders must still meet MATAplus eligibility, complete assessments, and book rides through the usual process.
Follows the code of conduct
All passengers must still follow MATA's Passenger Code of Conduct.
What the fare saves
MATA's fare page lists these regular prices, all waived while the Zero Fare Pilot runs.
- Adult bus fare
- $1.00
- Student bus fare
- $1.00
- Daily Fast Pass
- $2.00
- MATAplus base fare
- $2.00
- Children under 5 with a paying adult
- Free
The student reduced fare is only for Memphis-Shelby County Schools students with a $3 MATA ID card, so if fares return, a homeschooled teen would pay the regular fare.
How the pilot works
- Since November 16, 2025
Ride without paying
Board any bus or trolley without a fare, and book MATAplus trips as usual.
- During the pilot
MATA evaluates the program
MATA and the city are studying ridership, operations, and costs before deciding whether fare-free service continues.
- Before any change
Watch for notice
MATA says it will announce any return of fares well in advance on matatransit.com/zero-fare and @RideMATA.
What it includes
Included
- Fixed-route buses
- Downtown trolleys
- MATAplus paratransit
- Ready by MATA on-demand rides
Not included
- A set end date
- Changes to MATAplus eligibility rules
Who to contact about Zero Fare
The MATA Call Center answers questions about routes, fares, and the Zero Fare Pilot.
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
- What is a Memphis Public Libraries Book Bundle?
- You fill out a form about your child's interests, and a children's librarian picks a set of books and places them on hold for you to pick up.
- Which Memphis Public Libraries databases fit younger children?
- PebbleGo is built for K-2 learners in English and Spanish, TEL4U covers Pre-K to grade 5, and World Book Kids serves lower elementary students.
- Does a homeschool parent qualify for the Educator Card?
- Yes. Memphis Public Libraries lists home-school teachers by name among the people eligible for an Educator Library Card.
- What proof do I need for the Memphis Educator Card that I homeschool?
- The library's pages do not list it. Call circulation at 901-415-2702 before you go and ask which homeschool document to bring.
- Can my homeschooled child ride MATA free?
- Yes. During the pilot no fare is collected from any passenger, so your child does not need a school or MATA ID.
- Can my young child ride MATA alone?
- Not under age 5. MATA's fare rules have children under 5 ride with a fare-paying adult, so plan for an adult to ride with young children.
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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