BPC School Library

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.

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.

Probably you won’t, unless a medical breakthrough makes us immortal and then … why not. There is no cutoff age for read-alouds. Children benefit from sharing a story with their adults for many reasons. Here are some:

• Accessing engaging texts that they are ready for emotionally and intellectually but might not be able to fluently decode yet.
  As students learn to decode, they are assigned leveled books to help them learn to read. These texts are usually below their comprehension skills. If students read only books that they are able to decode on their own, they will often find reading as a boring chore, and we want them to be excited about books. Reading books to them that they are developmentally ready for will increase their comprehension skills.

• Our life experience and knowledge can help our children understand the historical, social, and geographical nuances present in the books we read with them.

• We help our children acquire new vocabulary as we read to them more challenging texts.

• We can expand the range of genres and topics that students are interested in by introducing them to something new as a read-aloud.

• Read-alouds are a wonderful way to practice discussion skills.

• Read-alouds offer a venue to discuss family values, right vs wrong, and difficult subjects.

• Sitting and reading together, or listening to an audiobook together, offers a daily reading routine that helps us grow closer together as a family.

• Read-alouds model adults’ stance on reading. If we read something that we enjoy ourselves, or listen to such an audiobook together, we provide a positive experience with books and show them we value it.

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, exhibit opportunities, scavenger hunts, and more.

1ST-8TH GRADE STUDENTS AND THEIR CARETAKERS HAVE TO READ, SIGN, AND RETURN THE LIBRARY CONTRACT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

4th-8th grade students and their families can complete the library contract online at the library website.

Once the weekly library schedule is completed it will include library class visits, open access periods, Fab Lab classes, and periods for flexible collaboration with teachers and students.

Updated schedule will be available on the library website.

• Kindergarten - Weekly Class Visits - planned to begin the week of September 28
  (Students will start borrowing books from the library around December)

• 1st-4th Grade - Biweekly Class Visits - planned to begin the week of September 22.

During the class visits, I teach students how to:

• Use library independently

• Find books they want to read on their own or with their families

• Increase understanding of their preferences as readers and learners

• Find books and other sources of information for their own interests or school projects

• Find credible information online

Additionally, I support students by:

• Exposing them to diverse high-quality picture books through read-alouds

• Recommending books based on their interests

• Incorporating read-alouds based on students’ current socio-emotional and academic needs

• Providing opportunities to reflect on and discuss various relevant subjects based on the read-alouds

• Providing space and book collections that is designed to increase students’ sense of belonging and independence

Planned to begin the week of September 28

• Mornings - 2-8th Grade - Monday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
  (to check out or read a book or work on an assignment)

• After Dismissal - 5-8th Grade - Tuesday and Friday, 2:50 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.
  (to check out or read a book or work on an assignment)

• Recess:

• 3rd-8th Grade - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, during recess

• Second Grade - Tuesday during recess

Open access during recess is time when students may check out and read books, work on their assignments, use provided art & craft materials, play board games and card games, quietly socialize with their peers, participate in a weekly makerspace, scavenger hunts, and other periodical activities.

• 4th Grade - Biweekly Visits - planned to begin September 30

• 5th Grade - Biweekly Visits - planned to begin in October

• 8th Grade Elective - Twice a week started September 17

To learn about the program, please visit the Fab Lab page on the library website.

Every year we have clubs in the library. Clubs are run either by volunteers, students, or me. This is the time of year when I am reaching out to you to consider co-leading a club. We would like to continue established clubs, and we would like to start new ones based on the volunteers’ skills and interests. Therefore, please consider co-leading one of our clubs whether it’s a club listed below or you would like to propose a new club. The goal is to have at least two leaders per club.

Student applications will be distributed to the classrooms in the middle of October. They will be available at the library, too. It is students’ responsibility to obtain an application and return it signed to their teachers or me, the librarian. All students will be informed when the applications are available. Space is limited and although we prioritize students who have not attended a club, it is mostly lottery based.

So far, we are planning the following clubs with intended start date of Monday, 11/2/2026:

Clubs run during recess on every day except Thursday, from 10:50 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This can change - Clubs are not finalized!

Recess clubs run by me, the librarian:

• Art Books and Zines (6-8th Grade) on Fridays

• Writing in Cursive and Making Books (2nd Grade) on Fridays

• Girls Who Code - all genders are welcome (4th and 5th Grade) on Fridays - Looking for two volunteers to potentially take over the club, all materials and units are provided (does not require coding experience)

Recess clubs run by volunteers - We need volunteers for all the clubs. Each club should be led by at least two volunteers:

• Sewing Club (2nd-8th grade, twice a week)

• Math Competition Club (6th-8th grade, during recess or after school)

• Crochet or Knitting Club (2nd-8th grade, twice a week)

• Jewelry Design Club (2nd-8th grade, once or twice a week) - all materials provided

• Makerspace (2nd-8th grade on Tuesdays) - not a club, open to students who are in the library for recess. Volunteers will be provided with activity plans and materials, or they can prepare their own.

• Any skill/activity you would like to share with our students (i.e. weaving, circuits, robotics, coding, etc.)

More information will follow once the clubs are finalized.

Mark your calendar! Here are a few events planned so far. All family members are welcome to attend them.

• Fall 2025 Book Fair - Friday 10/23 - Friday 10/30 (more information coming soon)

• Spring 2026 Book Fair - Friday 05/14 - Friday 05/21/2026

• Maker Faire - 06/03/2026

Please check the library website for updated information relating to all the library programs and events as well as student and family resources. You may click here, on the library website link and bookmark it, or you may type the school’s site address, www.bpcschool.org and navigate to "Programs" and click on the "Library" link in the submenu.

I will be emailing library newsletters periodically. Please, mark this message as not spam and add this email address to your contacts. I’ll be sending a message about volunteering opportunities very soon.

I cannot provide all the programs and events without your help. I am one librarian, with many ideas, for the entire 3K-8 grade school.

There are many ways you could help: run a club, help with technology, complete office tasks, tidy up and clean the library, organize materials, prepare materials, shelve books, help with bulletin-board displays, design posters/flyers/signage, repair books, help in Fab Lab, run and maintain our 3D printers and/or the CNC mill, and more.

I will be sending a separate email with more details about volunteering at the library.

Wishing you a wonderful beginning of the school year!

Stop by the library during the Back-to-School Night!

With warm regards,