Lending Library
The Home Service Lending Library has a variety of books, tapes, CDs and other resources available for loan to home educators. It is a ‘virtual library’ – the items are catalogued on this site, but they are held by different people in different parts of the country. After borrowing an item, library members agree to keep that item until requested by another member, and then post it on to the next borrower.
The library is open to members of the Home Service living in the UK. If you are not a current member, please subscribe to Home Service first.
How to borrow items from the library
- * view the catalogue of books / materials on the Home Service website
- * request item(s) from library administrator
- * if item(s) are available the administrator will reply via email with cost of postage and name and address of the item’s present location
- * the borrower should post a written request plus cost of postage (in stamps or cash) to the member currently holding that item
- * the administrator sends an e-mail to notify the current holder of the item that a request is on its way
- * when postage payment is received, the current holder packs and posts the item to the new borrower.
- * the current holder also notifies the administrator by e-mail that he has posted the item, and provides an assessment of the book’s condition when it left them – excellent, fair or poor.
- * the standard loan period is for six months (but a borrower can notify the administrator at any time that the item is finished with)
- * the borrower agrees to keep the item until it is requested by someone else
- * if an item is unavailable when requested (eg recently borrowed by someone else) the administrator will send an e-mail with an approximate date for when the book will become available
How to donate items to the library
Everything in the Home Service Library has been donated by members for the benefit of others. We welcome further donations at any time, and we will add them to the catalogue. If you have books or other resources that you no longer need, and you are willing to share them with other home educators, please donate them to the Home Service Library.
If you are willing to donate an item, you will not incur any postage charges. The item will be listed on the catalogue but it will remain in your possession until someone requests it. The first borrower will pay for you to post it to them. All items should be in relatively good condition and fit for use.
To donate an item:
- * send an e-mail to administrator with your name and address listing details of the item(s) – author, title, weight (for calculating postage), condition (excellent / good / fair)
- * the administrator confirms with an e-mail and adds the item(s) to the catalogue
- * the owner keeps the book available until he is notified that the book has been requested
- * on receiving a written request and payment for postage the owner posts the item to the new borrower
- * the owner notifies the administrator by e-mail that the item has been sent
When donating items, it is helpful if you can print the Home Service Library Bookplate and paste it in the cover of the the books or other items that you are donating.
Library Membership
Library users agree to
- * keep items for no longer than 6 months, if they are requested by another borrower
- * hold on to the items until they are requested by another family
- * give permission to the library administrator to pass your name and contact details to a subsequent borrower requesting any items you have finished with
- * not write in or damage books (even if already written in by the original owner)
- * post a written request and postage (in the form of stamps or cash) in order to receive the item(s) you want to borrow. (But you won’t have to pay to post the book on to the family subsequently requesting it from you.)
- * e-mail the library administrator to say you have posted the book and assess the condition in which the book left you – excellent, good or fair
- * notify the administrator if the book is lost or damaged beyond use while in your care