Leader Highlight: Sandy Hall
Sandy Hall, Mentor of Unite Homeschool Network & Owner of Hall’s Living Library
How did you begin homeschooling and what was your reason to homeschool?
We started homeschooling our children in the late 1980s. It was a new movement at that point. A couple of families in our church were homeschooling and introduced us to the idea. My husband took a day to fast and pray about our decision, and we started right away. We wanted something better than the current state of the schools in our area; we wanted the flexibility to serve and minister together as a family; and we wanted to provide the best possible academics that we could for our five children. That was the start, and we carried on for the next 25 years educating our five children from K to grade 12.
What was it like to homeschool then compared to now?
There were no co-ops or hybrid schools; there were very few companies that would even sell materials to homeschool families. Sometimes now I think there are too many options which can be overwhelming for parents.
Your Living Library is very impressive at 18,000+ books! How did that begin and what motivates you to keep it going?
In the early 90s, a dear friend introduced me to library sales. My husband and I knew we wanted our children to have a love for reading, so collecting books for them was important to us. Over the years as I gathered more and more books, I began to share them with other homeschool families. Michelle Howard had started her lending library in northern Michigan, and she became a role model for me, inspiring me to develop the library more formally and intentionally. You can read the story of my library and listen to a podcast about it here: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/librarian-notices-halls-living-library-from-state-to-state-over-five-decades/
If you could speak to your younger self, what advice would you give her?
My children are all grown now, and as I look back, it's not the number of pages in the math books we got done that are the highlights. It's the time together, shared experiences, trips and activities that are remembered and treasured. So, I would tell myself to enjoy the moments more, slow down and listen and play with the kids.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our members?
Surround your children with other godly adults who can and will speak truth into their lives.
What are the benefits of your Living Library and who would it be good for?
As I see the decline in the quality of most of the children's literature being published today, I am more and more passionate about preserving the beautiful books published in years past. My library, Hall's Living Library of Dallas, GA, is open to all families wanting the best possible books for their children. It's my delight to share the books and get to know the moms/dads and their children. I truly want to be a blessing and encouragement to the next generation of families as they educate their children.
How do families join your private library?
Please e-mail me to request a tour to see if the library is a good fit for your family. (sandrahall311@yahoo.com) There is a yearly family membership fee of $150. Most families come about once a month. Some families drive well over an hour! I promise you it's worth the drive. I also occasionally write book reviews here: http://www.HallsLivingLibrary.blogspot.com