We’re excited to help you find the resources you need to make learning come alive around your kitchen tables. No matter if you are homeschooling for the first time or if you have been part of the homeschool community for a while, we have a wealth of databases, books, and websites with free content that may suit your needs. We aim to support all learners. Library staff are on hand to offer personalized recommendations at each of our locations. You are also welcome to use our Ask a Librarian service.
Library Digital Resources
Encyclopedia filled with articles and recommended websites. Great for beginning online researchers.
Courses for professional and creative skills.
Local and international newspaper articles.
State and country statistics and facts from around the world.
Provides online language lessons with easy, intuitive interactive tools to deliver practical conversational skills and valuable cultural insight for over 70 languages.
A great way to find your next great read. Reading recommendations that cater to your unique needs. Kids and adults will find something to enjoy here.
The Gale In Context databases present a wide variety of age-appropriate information in multiple formats – text, images, video, including primary sources. They are a great source for homework.
A large collection of topic-specific article databases for research. There is overlap between databases, but nearly all of them have some unique content.
Gale OneFile: Informe Académico
Search across full-text Spanish- and Portuguese-language scholarly journals and magazines from and about Latin America.
Formerly Testing and Education Reference Center – Practice tests for high school, college, and career.
If you would like to learn more about how to use these resources and more, check out our YouTube Playlist and download the PDF slides that accompany it.
More Resources
Getting Started
Information from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction about Washington State Law in relation to home-based instruction. Includes links to network organizations.
7 Simple Steps to Start Homeschooling
Provided by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association
Provided by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association
Local Connections
Homeschoolers of Whatcom County
Local resource for homeschoolers in Whatcom County. Created by homeschool families for homeschool families.
Whatcom Homeschool Association
Network of over four hundred families supporting each other in the adventure of homeschooling in Whatcom County. The independent spirit of homeschool families coupled with a twenty-five-year-old support group combine with positive community relations to provide a richness of learning opportunities
Washington Homeschool Organization
To serve the diverse interests of home-based education in Washington state.
Partnership Programs
Joint efforts between parents and local public school staff designed to support home educators.
Websites and Reading Recommendations
Free Learning Websites
Ted Ed – A library of short video lessons aimed at educators and students
Khan Academy – Online lessons and exercises in almost every subject
Alphablocks – Learn to read and spell with letters who become blocks and discover that when they hold hands they make a word.
NASA for Students – Get your questions answered, find a project to make, or get help with homework. You can select a portal for K-4, grades 5-8, or grades 9-12 to find age appropriate information.
Code.org – Take a course, do an hour of code, or choose from open ended projects. You can make a web page, or create animations for a game, or make a simple app.
Scratch – Designed at MIT for youth ages 8-16 this website will help students create stories, animations, music and art using Scratch.
Duolingo – Learn to read, write, listen and speak a new language with small bite-sized skills made to feel like games.
Since Time Immemorial Curriculum
In 2015, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5433 modifying the original 2005 legislation, now requiring the Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington state or other tribally-developed curriculum be taught in all schools. The use of the Since Time Immemorial curriculum has been endorsed by all 29 federally recognized tribes.
Reading Recommendations
Librarian favorite lists of recommended books from credible organizations
Association for Library Service to Children Book and Media Awards – Famous book awards including the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal.
Children’s Notable Lists of Books, Digital Media, and Recordings – Best of the best books and media chosen each year by a panel of professional librarians and educators.
Diverse Book Finder – Resource to find books for all ages where all children can see themselves and each other in picture books.
Washington Library Association Book Awards – Professionally curated awards including the kid-voted Otter and Sasquatch awards.
Young Adult Library Services Association Booklist and Awards – Curated booklists and award winners for teens including books for reluctant readers, audiobooks, and graphic novels.
Young Reader’s Choice Awards – Award chosen by young readers in the Pacific Northwest