3 librarians win a trip to Harry Potter studios
dubai — Three librarians won a trip to Harry Potter Studios for their dedication in encouraging young students to adopt the habit of reading, it was announced on Monday.
The three winners were selected from 17 finalists of 15 private and public schools across the UAE as part of the School Librarian of the Year Award 2018 at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. The award was launched last year.
Veronika Lambova from Winchester School in Jebel Ali in Dubai, and joint librarians Sameh Farouq Faraj and Bakeeta Al Mansouri from Bida Al Mutawa School in Abu Dhabi won the awards in public and private school categories, re- spectively. They received a paid trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London — The Making of Harry Potter, for four people — including flights, accommodation and entry to the studio tour, visit to the British library, voucher of Dh4,000 for library furniture and voucher of Dh2,000 for library books.
Bulgarian expat 41-year-old Lambova said through organising reading clubs and daily activities, she encouraged primary students in the age group of 5-12 years to adopt the habit of reading.
“They would come back everyday excited to know more. It’s essentially through making reading fun that keeps them hooked,” said Lambova, who also organises occasional book fair and workshop visits. She was nominated for the award by the school’s head of the English department without her knowledge. “I suddenly received an email about being nominated for the award and was shocked.”
Lambova, who’s been a librarian in the school for five years, said her next step is to take the experience she will see during her visit to the British library and implement it in her school. “I want to create a platform where we connect with all librarians across the UAE and exchange experiences. It is only through discussion and research we can find greater ways to keep engaging children,” Said Lambova.
Egyptian Faraj, who’s been a librarian for the past 10 years — and seven years at the school — said he helped 86 students borrow up to 1,700 books in the first semester alone.
Through his close work with students, he encouraged them to participate in different reading competitions. Two of the students were selected among the top 10 in the region during the Arab Reading Challenge. In one of the national competitions, each student read up to 75 books.
“The main lesson I teach them is that reading is free and a book could be a friend to them whenever and wherever you go,” said Faraj who was nominated for the award by the school principal. “They have to respect the book and the library.”
Librarians celebrated
Second place award winners from private and public schools won a visit to Dubai Parks and Resorts for four people, including two nights’ accommodation at a Dubai hotel and a voucher of Dh1,500 for library books. Third place winners received voucher of Dh1,500 for library books.
All three winners will be awarded registration to the American Libraries Association conference which will be held alongside the Sharjah International Book Fair in November 2018. Two librarians also received a special recognition through which they won a Dh1,000 voucher for library books.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com