We are all a little behind on everything around here, sorry in advance. There was a funeral, a wedding, and unexpected Turkey Day guests, as well as some paid freelance work that we couldn’t turn down. We planned on doing a whole week of books that didn’t quiet make the curriculum, but we ran out of time. This post, however, while intended for the end of the week, was written first. We still think it will be helpful, so without further ado: Where to find free, cheap, or fast books to use when homsechooling.
Free:
First, check the library. Not only is your local library an amazing resource, but you’re actually helping them out when you check books out since many local libraries depend on check out numbers for funding. Plus it’s free!
If they don’t have what you need, ask a librarian about inter library loan. This is a program that lets you check out books from libraries across the country. If you need a longer check out period, ask your librarian if they do an educator card or have a homeschool program. Some libraries have programs, but you almost always have to ask.
If you use e-books, check and see if your library uses an e-book system. My smaller public library system is sort of terrible about having print books I need on hand, however, they have a huge e-book collection.
If you have a university near you, look into getting a library card from them. Most public institutions have some sort of program for the public to use their resources. They usually have a bigger selection of books on hand, and they also are part of local and national networks of libraries for inter library book loans. Also, they often let you check out books for longer than the public library would.
Shop your shelves! I own three different translations of the Iliad, and Sam kept all her college textbooks. Check and see if you already happen to own the books you need.
Cheap:
If you want to buy a book, look into buying used.
If you are in Oregon, go visit. Heck, I might just plan a vacation around going to Powell’s, its that great. It also has an amazing selection of used books for sale online.
This is good if you’ve struck out elsewhere. While we are only listing in-print books for the curriculum, this is the place to find some really hard to locate stuff as well as more common used books.
These guys specialize in remainder books, so you can occasionally get a really good deal on last year’s popular books.
Fast:
And, of course, if you want that book new and at your house tomorrow, there’s always Amazon. Or, if you like e-books, Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited
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Ursa Minor Learning 