School Librarian of the Year Award 2018 
Winners Announced!
On 5 March, 2018, The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai and Emirates Literature Foundation awarded the 6 winners of the School Librarian of the Year Award for their transformative work in encouraging students to read, develop their creativity and enhance the importance of reading in the schools of the UAE. Two librarians were awarded special recognition for their determination and dedication to their students.
In recognition of the commitment and inspiring efforts of all the nominees, it was also announced at the ceremony that all librarians nominated for the School Librarian of the Year Award 2018 will be awarded registration to the school librarian training day in the Library Conference hosted by the American Library Association (ALA) Conference at Sharjah International Book Fair in November 2018.
The ceremony was held at the landmark Etihad Museum, Jumeirah 1 during the week of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2018 and the UAE’s Month of Reading. In attendance were His Excellency Mohammed Al Murr, Emirates Literature Foundation Trustee and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation Chairman, His Excellency Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Dr. Salah Abdul Aziz Al Qassim, Advisor, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Dr Hissa Ahmed Binmasoud, Director of Public Libraries Department and Shumous Bin Faris, Dubai Coordinator for the Month of Reading, The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai in attendance. The prizes were presented by His Excellency Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti – Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai and bestselling UK children’s author Jacqueline Wilson.
Prizes
- First Place: Trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter for 4 people, to include flights, accommodation and entry to the studio tour; visit to the British library; an item of library furniture; voucher for AED2000 for library books
- Second Place: Visit to Dubai Parks and Resorts for 4 people including two nights’ accommodation at a Dubai hotel; voucher for AED1500 for library books
- Third Place: Voucher for AED1500 for library books
- Special Recognition: voucher for AED1000 for library books
All three winners, plus the librarian awarded special recognition in each category, were also awarded registration to the 3-day Sharjah International Book Fair/ American Libraries Association conference in November 2018.
Winners
Public School Librarians
First Place (Shared):
Sameh Farouk and Bakhita Almansoori, Bida Al Mutawa School, Abu Dhabi
Second Place:
Aliaa Ali Saeed Alketbi, Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Basic Education, Cycle 1 – Girls, Dubai
Third Place:
Amna Salem Alshamsi, Shaikha bint Suroor School, Al Ain
Special Recognition:
Maha Ali Alghanem, Al Wady School for Boys, Cycle 1, Al Dhaid, Sharjah
Private School Librarians
First Place:
Veronika Lambova, The Winchester School, Dubai
Second Place (Shared):
Tracy Ammoury and Helen Fouch, Dubai English Speaking School, Dubai
Third Place:
Julie Dotterer, American Community School, Abu Dhabi
Special Recognition:
Heba Abdulhadi, Yas Private Academy, Abu Dhabi
Finalists
The finalists from public school libraries were:
- Aliaa Ali Saeed Alketbi, Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Basic Education, Cycle 1 – Girls, Dubai
- Amna Salem Alshamsi, Shaikha bint Suroor School, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
- Asmahan Youssef Mohammad AlAwadhi, Fujairah School for Basic Education, Cycle 1, Fujairah
- Maha Ali Alghanem, Al Wady School for Boys, Cycle 1, Al Dhaid, Sharjah
- Margaret Smallpeice, Applied Technology High School, Dubai
- Sameh Farouk and Bakhita Almansoori, Bida Al Mutawa School, Abu Dhabi
The finalists from private school libraries were:
- Heba Abdulhadi, Yas Private Academy, Abu Dhabi
- Heba Hamdy, Al Ittihad National Private School, Abu Dhabi
- Julie Dotterer, American Community School, Abu Dhabi
- Madhu Badhe, Kings’ School Al Barsha, Dubai
- Mary Rose Grieve, Hartland International School, Dubai
- Ofelia Gulerez, Deira Private School, Dubai
- Rajaa Albayyari, Emirates National School, Mohammed Bin Zayed Campus, Abu Dhabi
- Tracy Ammoury and Helen Fouch, Dubai English Speaking School, Dubai
- Veronika Lambova, The Winchester School, Dubai
We were thrilled to have received seventy-seven nominations recognising the achievements of wonderful librarians from all over the UAE.
Nominees
The nominees received in English from public school libraries were:
Name | School Name | Emirate |
Margaret Smallpeice | Applied Technology High School | Dubai |
The nominees received in English from private school libraries were:
Name | School Name | Emirate |
Brandy Mowatt | Maplewood International School | Abu Dhabi |
Carolin Lisa Delp | German International School Dubai | Dubai |
Doaa | GEMS Winchester School. Abu Dhabi | Abu Dhabi |
Jasmine Rafaie | Manor Primary School | Dubai |
Julie Dotterer | American Community School | AbuDhabi |
Kanwaljit kaur | Our Own English High School Sharjah | Sharjah |
Madhu Badhe | Kings’ School Al Barsha | Dubai |
Madhur Khare | Gems Modern Academy | Dubai |
Maissa Kholoki | American School Of Creative Science | Sharjah |
Maricel Agpay | Kings’ School Al Barsha | Dubai |
Marie Comb | Safa British School | Dubai |
Marwah Al Nuaimi | Emirates National School | Abu Dhabi |
Mary Rose Grieve | Hartland International School | Dubai |
Monisha Roy C. | Diyafah International School | Abu Dhabi |
Ofelia Gulerez | Deira Private School | Dubai |
Pam Warkup | Fujairah Private Academy | Fujairah |
Raghunathan Manheri | GEMS Westminster School | Dubai |
Robin Brown | Al Mizhar American Academy | Dubai |
Sana Al Issa | Dar Al Marefa Private School | Dubai |
Simone Nowell | Jebel Ali School | Dubai |
Suha AlQaruty | Brighton College | Abu Dhabi |
Syeda Umme Salma | Good Will Children Private School | Abu Dhabi |
Tracy Ammoury and Helen Fouch | Dubai English Speaking School | Dubai |
Veena Nair | Delhi Private School | Dubai |
Veronica Scheepers | Deira International School | Dubai |
Veronika Lambova | The Winchester School | Dubai |
Walaa Tawfik | German International School Dubai | Dubai |
Zeba Hasan | Leaders Private School,Sharjah | Sharjah |
Click here to view nominations received in Arabic.
Please click here to view the winning librarians from the first edition in 2017.
Terms and Conditions
- The competition is open to all school librarians in all stages of school education, from primary/elementary upwards.
- One candidate can be nominated from each library.
- One candidate can be nominated from each library in schools which have separate libraries for each stage.
- The librarian and the head teacher must be aware of and approve of the nomination.
- Any librarian can nominate him- or herself.
- Previous applicants who were not awarded first prize in the previous edition of the award (2017) are welcome to enter again.
- Only one nomination will be accepted per librarian and once submitted, nominations may not be updated.
- Joint nominations are allowed only where the librarian role is performed as a job share partnership where each librarian holds equal status.
- Joint nominations must be submitted as a single entry, and the prize would be shared by Nominees should they win.
- To be considered for the award, Nominees must be employed at the same school listed on their entry form at the awards ceremony in March 2018.
- All Nominees will receive a certificate of participation. Please ensure Nominee names are spelled correctly on the entry form. Certificates will be distributed at the awards ceremony in March 2018.
- The deadline for receiving entries for the competition is final. No entries received after the given date will be considered.
- The first and second-place winners must give their preferred dates for travel and the details of their three companions by 15 April, 2018. The prize(s) must be taken by 5 September 2018, and cannot be deferred.
- In case a first prize winner is unable to travel to the United Kingdom for any reason, a visit to Dubai Parks and Resorts for 4 people including four nights’ accommodation at a Dubai hotel will be offered as an alternative.
- There is no cash alternative to any of the prizes.
- Prizes unclaimed within the specified deadline will be deemed to have been forfeited.
- Emirates Literature Foundation does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries due to the Internet service. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
- Entrants agree, in case they are short-listed, to the Emirates Literature Foundation’s use of their name, photograph and student-testimonial video in relation to related publicity material and activities. Schools should be aware that they need to have parental consent for use of student testimonials.
- Entrants agree, in case they are selected as winners, to participate in and provide content for media and Emirates Literature Foundation publicity material and activities as requested by the Foundation.
- By entering for this award, Nominees are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and to agree to be bound by them.
- Judging decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into with regard to these decisions.
What our attendees from last year said
“Words cannot describe how wonderful it feels to be recognised for the library program I’ve created in our little school.”
Sheila Seiler, 1st Place Winner 2017
“I think that… the School Librarian of the Year event, including the panel, was superlative, and a wonderful shot in the arm for people and a profession often undervalued.”
Kevin Crossley-Holland, Chair of the UK School Library Association (2012-17)
“It was an honour to work with you. I view it as an enriching experience. I thank you all for inviting me and for the organization and patience.”
Shaikha Al Muhairi, Judge
“A huge thank you for a wonderful evening and I was very pleased to receive third prize.”
Vikki Gilzean, 3rd Place Winner
“A massive thank you for such a wonderful time at the Librarian of the Year Ceremony. It was the most lovely event, a great discussion, the food was amazing and it was great to meet other librarians. I was so happy to receive my award and feel proud to have been a part of it all.”
Kate Riddle, Highly Commended
“Librarians are often overlooked and underfunded as was made clear last night. It was delightful to hear such approbation for school librarians.”
Judith Bonner, Nominee