This fall will be my first time using TOG. I plan to use the library for most of our Year 1 UG schooling. There were only a handful of books not listed in our library system and I will purchase those.

I am curious if anyone who uses library books for TOG, has found it difficult getting the books when they need them? I'm wondering if I start when public school starts, like many homeschoolers do, if I will be wrestling with other TOG users in getting the books I need.

Do you end up falling behind often because you can't get a book you need?

Would you recommend I begin weeks earlier than public school kids?

Thanks in advance!







I plan to request the books at least a week in advance

We use the library, and we use the recommended TOG schedule. So far, we've completed YR2 and we're currently in YR3, and I've bought just a few books. I've found it fairly easy to substitute at the UG level, although I have friends who have older children and they buy more books in order to make sure their kids have the "right" information to complete all their questions each week. I've learned to use the Inter-library loan system for books I really want, but don't depend upon it too completely because it's unreliable. Mostly, I've found the books I've needed at the library or substituted with books from the library--especially with biographies. The books that are hardest to find are any books having to do with church history or missionaries. So far, I have no complaints about using the library for TOG books.
Robin

This is our first year using TOG with LG, UG, and D levels. We are doing Year 1 and getting our books from the library or from books we already have on our shelves. I did start our history studies about two weeks before the public school year started because I too had concerns about the books being checked out when I needed them. I usually request the books two to three weeks early to have time to get the ones that must come from interlibrary loan. If you cannot get a book you need from the library you might try getting the book listed from the level above or below your student (LG or D). Several times I have chosen to use the Dialectic books (even when I could get the other levels) for all of my children's levels just because I like the selection better. Another benefit of using the library is that I can get all of the alternate resources, too. Using the library does take some management, but if you have a good library system with interlibrary loan like we do then it is a lot of fun to have all of those books available. We usually have about 40 to 50 library books checked out at a time.

Blessings,
Jill

Boy, it depends on your library. Sounds like you have a good one if you could find many books without delving into the "loaner" system. It hasn't worked for me, but we are in a small town and maybe our Inter-library Loan system isn't as efficient. I've wondered if there are just too many TOGers around, already requesting the books I've requested!? I prefer to buy books for this reason. Maybe you could test your library system with a list of books off in the future to confirm they have good selection and/or could promise a good chance of getting them from ILLoan?

Hi.

This is our first year of doing TOG (YR 1), and we've been using both the LG and UG books. So far, I have been able to find most of the books in the library, except for the "Bible titles" (though the library does have a few picture Bibles) and maybe a couple of the books that are supposed to replace the OOP ones - it turns out that the libraries had the OOP books. There were a few of the history-in-depth books that weren't available, but we were able to find substitutions just fine. (Just a note: the worksheets for the UG level are usually for the literature assignments.) In fact, while searching for substitutions we have come across some fun books to add to the reading list. And being the avid readers that they are, our kids just love having more books to read.

We are fortunate that we have access to borrow books from all the libraries in the county. I usually request the books on-line and they've arrived at our local branch within 3-5 days.

We started school during the last week of August. So far, we haven't had difficulty getting the books we need because they are checked out by someone else. Maybe it's because there's usually 2 or 3 copies of the books throughout the county library system, but that's just my speculation.

So, in our case, getting books from the library has been working out really well.

I just thought of something that might help you. Before we started the year, I went to the "Bookshelf" and did a search for YR 1 resources for all units of UG. And then I went to our library system's on-line catalog to see which of the titles were available. I was pleased that most of the books were in the library system. And there were only a few of the "religious" titles that one would need to purchase or borrow.

HTH.

Blessings,
Kathy

Boy, you're extremely lucky if your library has most of the Year 1 books...that was NOT my experience. However, as we progressed through TOG Years 2, 3 and 4, it became easier to find the books at our library.

We live in a small (rural) town in Maine and I *was* able to find most of the Year 1 books ILL but I would have had to pay shipping BOTH directions...so we decided we might as well purchase the books and have them for the next time around.

You asked about starting a little early so that you won't be competing with other TOG families. I've been using the library for TOG books for four years now, and I've never had much of a problem - until recently. Tapestry must be getting much more popular around here, because I'm beginning to have many more problems getting books when I need them. This year, I don't count on being able to get a book at a particular time unless our library system has not just one or two, but at least six or so copies of it.

So, depending on what's going on in your city, this may indeed be a problem. I can't adjust our schedule ahead, since we're working with the redesign schedule - doing a unit as soon as it's produced. But doing anything other than year 3 right now, you could set your schedule ahead or behind and be fine. Ahead is probably safest - and if you're a month or more ahead, then not only will you not have trouble finding the books, but you'll be able to return many of them in time for others to use them on a "normal" schedule! (I always feel mildly guilty when I check out a book early so that we'll be sure to have it on time, and therefore know I'm restricting someone else's access to it....)

Have you considered using your local public school library? I was able find several books for Year 1 at our local public school. There were several copies of some books available. I was told I could keep them out as long as I needed, unless a teacher or student needed them.

Also, have you considered asking your local library to purchase some of the books you are looking for? My library ordered certain books when they saw there were none available in those subject areas.

I hope this is helpful.

Thanks to all of you for your feedback!

I think I will aim to start a month ahead of when public school starts. Then I will check the week they do start, to see if I would have been able to get the books. This way I can be more relaxed during the school year if we end up falling behind.

Diane, I have not considered asking our local library to purchase books. Are they usually pretty good at ordering books just because one person requested it? How long does it take them to get a book that they order? I might try and asking them to order books!

Have you had them order any of the church history or 'religious' books for you?

Find out who orders the books. Share with them a wish list of books you are looking for. Ask them to consider looking at your list to update their library. Funding may be available.

Also, for church history & religion have you looked at any of your local church libraries? I did find books at our church library. Our librarian is also open to buying new books.

Remember, it never hurts to ask!

I hope this is helpful.

Here is the letter I submit to our librarian each year along with the list of books:

"Our family will begin a study of [the ancient world] in the upcoming school year. I have compiled a list of books that we will need for our studies. Please look over the list and let me know which items the library would be willing to purchase. Thank you so much for your assistance."

I always submit my request in January before the library runs out of money to purchase books. The books arrive between 3 weeks and 3 months later.

HTH!

Hi! We are just starting TOG Y1 with LG & UG and we are trying to use the library as much as possible, but I've already noticed a few things you might want to consider when using the library as this has been my experience.
1. How long you're allowed to have a book. Our library allows you to have a book out for THREE weeks, so if I've put a book on request and someone else has just checked it out, it could be up to three weeks before I'll be able to get it.
2. If I check a book out early to make sure I'll have it for an upcoming week and someone else puts a request/reserve for it, I can not recheck /extend my loan for it. It has to go back for the next person on the reserve list, which means if I am the 2nd or 3rd person to request/reserve it, it could be 6 weeks or more before I'll get it. So make sure you check your library's reservation policies!
3. I've also noticed that some of the books that I would expect the library to have, such as the Usborne books, the library does not carry.
4.Due to "privacy policies" our library can not even tell us when they are expecting a book back (due date). As a result, we've waited up until the weekend before we needed the book, and then had to buy it and pay expedited shipping for the book.
5. Consider the time it takes to reserve the book. Our library allows us to reserve online, but sometimes a book will not show up under the title but under the author and vice-versa. It took me over 2 hours to find and reserve just the books for week 1. And my internet Kung Fu is strong!
As a result, we've decided to buy the primary books a unit at a time and just try to get the alternate/extra resources from the library.

Hopefully, this helps!

It depends on the library. I would sugg. you talk to a librarian about their policies. We are fortunate to be in a consortium of about 20 other libraries, so we can almost always find a copy somewhere. Our library also allows homeschoolers to use a teacher card, which means no overdue fines. That doesn't apply to movies, but it sure helps! There have been a few times when I've not been able to renew a book b/c it's on reserve by someone else, but usually there are enough copies to go around through our consortium.

We're in our 3rd yr. with TOG & have used the library system extensively.
I print a list of books needed by year & do an on-line search with our library system to see what is available & note it on my list. I also note which books we already own, etc.
Thus far, we've mainly bought only the "core" books that are needed for several weeks & have generally not had problems obtaining books through library in a timely manner. In our library, it seems that ordering 1 week early works well.
Happy planning!