Homeschool & Educator Resources
Welcome to the LME Library Homeschool & Educator Resource Page!
Like most public libraries, the Lillie M. Evans Library serves homeschool families and educators in our area. To assist educators and learners with their needs, we have developed a section of our website for our homeschoolers, educators and students. This page includes links to online resources as well as tips on using the library catalog. We have persistent links that support areas of curriculum directly into RSAcat, our online catalog. Finally we have information about any local groups that focus on homeschooling activities.
RSAcat - Your Library Catalog 
The LME Library is a member of the Resource Sharing Alliance which makes it easy for our users to search and to borrow materials from almost 200 libraries in central Illinois. RSAcat is our library online catalog and is how our staff and patron searches for materials in our collection. RSAcat can be limited to one library or all of the RSAcat When you search for items from our LME Library homepage, materials are first limited to the LME Library collection.
You can searching for items from the LME Library Collection only: http://alsi.sdp.sirsi.net/client/LillieMEvansLD
or
you can searching for items from all RSAcat member libraries: http://alsi.sdp.sirsi.net/client/
RSA Quick Links
If you're looking for materials on these subjects, just click on the search terms to link directly to RSAcat:
Homeschooling | Mathematics |Algebra | Great Courses DVDs
RSAcat Bookmarklet 
This bookmarklet will allow patrons to check for any book they are looking at on an internet page to see if it is available RSAcat. Here is the link to the instructions and the bookmarklet. You just drag it into your favorites bar: http://www.librarything.com/forlibraries/bookmarklet/1750.a6f/Resource-Sharing-Alliance-NFP-Enterprise-account- Install it on your computer and play around, it works quite well.
RSAcat 'My Account' Features
In addition to searching for items in the RSAcat, library users can use the RSACat’s ‘My Account’ feature to easily view library account information, renew items, and manage holds. Please visit http://lmelibrary.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=16&Itemid=200 to review these features. You can also make and edit your own lists.
Online Databases & E-Resources
In addition to our library catalog, RSAcat, the library subscribes to several online resources for our patrons. Some of the resources require a LME Library card number and sometimes a PIN #. If you do not know your PIN #, please ask at the library circulation desk for assistance (385-4540). Home access is available for all LME Library cardholders. All our databases & e-resources are listed in the left column of each webpage under "Library Subscription Databases". In addition, descriptions of each database is available at http://lmelibrary.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=172
Additional Database Resource Information:
America's New: Hot Topics
World Book Resources for Homeschool.pdf
We have fantastic resources for our home educators and students from World Book Web including:
World Book Kids is the website specially designed just for young students and there are resources for home educators too! Lesson Plans, Science Projects and Common Core Correlations are all at your finger tips. To access your resources click on For Educators then Educator Tools at the bottom of the database. Short training videos are available at http://www.worldbookonline.com/training/html/webinars_kids.htm
World Book Student is designed for students in upper elementary and middle school. Resources for home educators include Lesson Plans and Common Core Correlations and all are at your finger tips. To access your resources, click on For Educators then Educator Tools at the bottom of the database. Short training videos are at https://www.worldbookonline.com/training/assets/webinars/Student_Overview_Webinar_11.15.19.mp4
Tailored for the needs and skills of students in grades 8 and up, World Book Advanced includes a streamlined design, access to historical documents, and important news updates. The “Take Me To…” feature allows learners to find Pathfinders and Resource Guides. Also under the “Take Me To...” menu is Teaching with Documents that provides lessons plans for educators. World Book Advanced has videos designed to introduce users to the various features on the site.http://www.worldbookonline.com/training/html/webinars_advanced.htm
IDNR Field Packs
The LME Library has 2 field packs from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources available for checkout. These packs are ideal for hands-on exploration of the natural world and circulate for 2 weeks.
Click images for links to library catalog.
Library Links for Websites
We've bookmarked our favorite websites at http://lmelibrary.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13&Itemid=191
One of the librarian's favorite links is for The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (http://www.p21.org/). P21 is a national organization that advocates for 21st century readiness for every student. P21 and its members provide tools and resources to help educators keep up by fusing the 3Rs and 4Cs (Critical thinking and problem solving, Communication, Collaboration, and Creativity and innovation).
Local Homeschooling Resources
- ISBE has a page dedicated to answering questions that parents or guardians are often worry about such as following the required laws, filing the correct paperwork, and finding resources to get started.
- Illinois Virtual School was established in 2001 as the official supplemental virtual learning provider of the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and is administered through the Peoria County Regional Office of Education. Working in partnership with public and private schools as well as homeschooled students, IVS offers both classes for students and professional development programs for educators through online web-bases services.
- APACHE (Association of Peoria Area Christian Home Educators) is a not-for-profit corporation governed by a volunteer board of directors. They are not a membership organization, but instead offer a monthly newsletter, annual convention, used curriculum fair, and various events throughout the year.
- If you are wondering what a typical course of study might look like for your child’s grade, World Book has curriculum guides for preschool to 12th grade. Each grade is broken down by subjects, such as mathematics, language arts and science. (The library subscribes to World Book Online and it is accessible with your LME Library card.)
- Rainbow Resource Center is based out of Toulon, IL, and is an educational resource supply company for homeschoolers. Their newsletter is available online or by email. They also have an information page for homeshoolers and live help through their consultants.
