School Librarian Of The Year Award 2017

In its inaugural year, the School Librarian of the Year Award, organised by the Emirates Literature Foundation and The General Secretariat of The Executive Council of Dubai, received a staggering 100 entries. The top 10 UAE librarians were awarded for their transformative work in encouraging students to read, develop their creativity and enhance the importance of reading in the schools of the UAE.

The 2017 award ceremony was held at the InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City alongside the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2017. In attendance were Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice Chairman, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, Vice Chairman, Emirates Literature Foundation and His Excellency Saeed Al Nabouda, Acting Director General at Dubai Culture. The prizes were presented by His Excellency Abdulla Abdul Rahman Al Shaibani – Secretary General of the Executive Council of Dubai and UK President of the School Library Association and author Kevin Crossley-Holland.

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; visit to a school library in UK; an item of library furniture; voucher for AED2000 for library books
Second Place: Visit to Legoland Dubai 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
Fourth place: voucher for AED1000 for library books
Highly Commended: voucher for AED500 library books

All four winners, plus the highly commended librarian in each language, were also awarded registration to the 3-day Sharjah International Book Fair/ American Libraries Association conference in November 2017.

Click here to learn more.

Winners

International School Librarian – Winners

Sheila Seiler	GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
Michelle Plant	JESS Arabian Ranches Secondary
Vikki Gilzean	Rashid School for Boys
Emma Fisher	JESS Jumeirah
Highly Commended: Kate Riddle	Deira International School (Primary)

Finalists

The finalists from international school libraries were:

Emma Fisher	JESS Jumeirah, Dubai
Kate Riddle	Deira International School, Dubai
Margaret Smallpeice	Institute of Applied Technology, Dubai
Michelle Plant	JESS Arabian Ranches, Dubai
Raghunathan Manheri	The Westminster School, Dubai
Sheila Seiler	GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi
Vikki Gilzean	Rashid School for Boys, Dubai

Click here to view the finalists from Arabic language school libraries.

We were thrilled to have received nearly one hundred nominations recognising the achievements of wonderful librarians from all over the UAE:

The nominees from international school libraries were:

Name of Nominee	School Name	Emirate
Elle Ryan	Safa Community School	Dubai
Amanda Lamond	Repton School	Dubai
Christine Malinowski	Greenfield Community School	Dubai
Damian Morgan	Australian International School	Sharjah
Emma Fisher	JESS Jumeirah	Dubai
Fatmeh Othman Al Foot	Al Dhafra Private School – Al Ain	Abu Dhabi
Gaelene Clarke	Dubai College	Dubai
Judith Bonner	Jumeirah College	Dubai
Kate Riddle	Deira International School	Dubai
Lesley Donnachie	Cranleigh	Abu Dhabi
Madhu Badhe	Kings’ School Al Barsha	Dubai
Madhur Khare	GEMS Modern Academy	Dubai
Margaret Smallpeice	Applied Technology High School	Dubai
Michelle Plant	JESS Arabian Ranches	Dubai
Mireille Najjar	Horizon Private School	Abu Dhabi
Mittu Jayakrishnan	Gulf Indian School Dubai	Dubai
Najwa Deeb	Abu Dhabi International Private School	Abu Dhabi
Nihal Hassan	Wesgreen International School	Sharjah
Nosheen Saba Khan	King’s School Nad Al Sheba	Dubai
Ofelia Gulerez	Deira Private School	Dubai
Paddy Mullen	The British School Al Khubairat	Abu Dhabi
Pam Warkup	Fujairah Private Academy	Fujairah
Raghunathan Manheri	The Westminster School	Dubai
Reefat Nurmohamed	Jumeirah Primary School	Dubai
Saleem Ayyanath	Delhi Private School Dubai (Senior School)	Dubai
Sanam Bozorgi	The Arcadia Preparatory School	Dubai
Sheila Seiler	GEMS World Academy Abu Dhabi	Abu Dhabi
Simi Jaiphar	Gulf Model School	Dubai
Suha AlQaruty	Brighton College Al Ain	Al Ain
Susane joseph	Raffles International School	Dubai
Tamara Button	American Community School	Abu Dhabi
Tracy Ammoury	Dubai English Speaking School	Dubai
Veena Malapil	Delhi Private School Dubai (Junior School)	Dubai
Vikki Gilzean	Rashid School for Boys	Dubai

Please click here to view the winners, finalists and nominees from Arabic language school libraries

What our attendees are saying

“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.”