Boon for home schoolers

By Ed Merrison
BELGRAVE Library is launching a new initiative to connect home-educated children and their families with the broader community.
The library will offer the use of its community room for the venture, which kicks off with its first regular meeting on Thursday, 7 September at 2pm.
Belgrave liaison librarian Judy Wolff hopes the hour-long meetings will give children and parents alike the opportunity to meet socially and exchange ideas.
Ms Wolff said the initiative aimed to attract home schooling families who were not yet part of a network.
“Where better to meet like-minded people than the most scenic library in the Hills,” she said.
Belgrave resident Kylie Wright, who started a network of home schoolers and works closely with families, applauded the idea.
“It’s fantastic and I’m really pleased to have been involved in it,” she said.
“Home schooling is a great way to educate children, but parents can sometimes feel isolated if they’re not involved with a local support group.
“We’re a resourceful lot and keep in contact via email, forums, curricular activities and excursions, but the more opportunities to meet socially, the better.”
Ms Wright felt the library was a particularly apt place to meet.
“Our society doesn’t tend to have the library in its consciousness as other western societies,” she said.
“It’s a really nice environment, and really important for the kids to be introduced to a library environment from a young age.”
The library will provide a meeting room as well as light refreshments and a 15-minute chat to show families how to make the most of its information resources and Internet computers.
Families who want to register their interest can phone Belgrave Library on 9754 7266.