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Annual Library Report 2024-2025

Dear BPC School Families,

Welcome to the new school year, and a warm welcome back to our returning families! I hope you all had a wonderful summer filled with relaxation and memorable experiences.

About the Librarian

    For those of you who may not know me, my name is Basia Tov. I am a librarian at our school, and this year, I am also a fourth and sixth grade art teacher. I have taught at Battery Park City School for eleven years starting as a special and general education teacher. I've had the pleasure of being the school librarian for the last nine years of my time here.

    In addition to maintaining and expanding our library program, I also founded our Fab Lab to complement the library’s inquiry and technology goals and foster innovation and creativity in our students by encouraging them to create real-life solutions and products that improve the world around us.

    I am also a practicing artist and will expand my joy of creating to my new role as an art teacher. I will share more information about my fourth and sixth grade art curriculum in a separate email.

Library’s Mission

In the library, we seek views, perspectives, knowledge, understandings, emotions, and realities of the world. In the space for our makers, we seek knowledge, experiences, understandings, skills, problems, and solutions that undermine the idea that there is only one way to make something, one way of thinking about a problem or solution. We embrace the ambiguity and complexity of our world with ingenuity and boldness.

As we acquire knowledge, skills, and new understandings through the library programs, our minds are more flexible and ready for the discomfort and work required to see the world as it is, and to live joyfully within it as just, creative, and problem-solving human beings.

Joy of Independent Reading

One essential aspect of our library's mission is to promote independent reading and book selection. Empowering students to choose their own reading materials has been linked to lifelong reading and increased literacy skills. As students bring books home to read on their own or to have it read to them by you, I encourage you to engage your children in conversation about their choices, interests, and book formats. Every child’s reading needs and interests are unique. Please, be mindful that it takes time, and plenty of trial and error for children to understand themselves as independent readers, and still their preferences are bound to change as they get older.

Multifaceted and Diverse Learning Hub

The library offers many programs and services - some are integrated into other subjects, some are offered during class visits to the library, and others are part of the recess activities. We also have exciting events planned for the year, including book fairs, author visits, career day, scavenger hunts, and more. 

Possible Only With Volunteers’ Help

Most of the library events and programs need families’ participation and support to be successful. I rely on volunteers for shelving books, organizing materials, creating visual assets, clerical work, assisting during Fab Lab and Art classes, leading clubs, and helping out with special events. 

Your involvement makes a significant difference in our library's offerings.

I am looking forward to engaging students in new and exciting opportunities to learn, share their voices, and grow as caring and unique individuals. 

Help Needed!

If you would like to volunteer in the library on a regular basis or help out with a particular need, please view this spreadsheet with a list of areas where I need help and contact me at btov@schools.nyc.gov, or just email me.

Library Schedule and Program Rollout

Library Program Rollout Dates

This summer, the library has been reduced in size, and the work of adjusting the space is not complete. We are still awaiting new bookcases to relocate a significant section of the book collection. Therefore, finalizing schedules and start dates is delayed. Nevertheless, I am shifting programs around to maximize the use of my time and the library.

Class Visits

• K-4th Grade - Biweekly Class Visits - start in October

Open Access

• 2-8th Grade - Open Access 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (to check out a book or work on an assignment) - start in November

• 2-8th Grade - Open Access 2:50 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. (to check out a book or work on an assignment) - start in November

• 3-8th Grade - Recess Open Access - Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday - start in November

• 2nd Grade - Recess Open Access - Monday - start in November

Clubs

This year, due to changes in recess schedule, the club offering will be different. It is not finalized yet as I am trying to recruit more volunteers to lead new clubs. 

So far, we are planning the following clubs:

• Sewing Club (3-8th grade, twice a week during recess) begins in November

• MathCounts Club (6th-8th grade, after school on Tuesdays) begins in October

• Fab Lab Club (5-8th grade, Friday during recess) begins in November

• Crochet Club, Student-Led (7-8th grade, Friday during recess) begins in November

• Makerspace - not a club, open to students who are in the library for recess. Activities led by an instructor (looking for 2-3 volunteers)

Club applications will be distributed by the end of September. More information will follow

Help Needed! - If you are interested in leading a club, please contact me. I am open to new ideas! Here are some suggestions:

• Minecraft

• Math Club (3&4 gr and 5th gr)

• Crochet or Knitting for students (2-6 gr)

• Weaving or other craft

• Circuits

• Robotics

• Coding

• Any skill/activity volunteers would like to share with our students

Check the library website for the most recent information.

Scheduled Schoolwide Events

• Fall 2025 Book Fair - 10/24-10/31 (more information coming soon)

• Career Day 2026 - 01/15/2026 after school

• Spring 2026 Book Fair - 05/18-05/22/2026

• Maker Faire - 06/03/2026

Library Information and Updates

Library Website

To stay up to date on all library events and program developments and view the library calendar, please refer to our library website. 

The direct link is always included in my email signature. I would suggest bookmarking it, since it is difficult to remember it. 

You can also access the website by going to bpcschool.org, choosing “Programs” from the website’s main menu, and clicking on the “Library” link. 

Instagram

I also have my public librarian Instagram account (no student-identifying photos) and a private Instagram account for the school library (with photos of the students). If you request to follow the private account, make sure to check the Instagram messenger to respond to my security question. This privacy measure is implemented to keep photos with our students private.

If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Warm regards,

Basia Tov | she/her

Librarian

4th & 6th Grade Art Teacher

Library and Fab Lab at PS/IS 276 Battery Park City School

Masters in Library and Information Science

Masters in Early Childhood General and Special Education

Library Calendar