Honouring the UAE's Librarians
Ask a parent what they want their child to read, and most of us will probably say the same thing: anything, as long as they’re reading.
Because getting children to pick up a book for pleasure can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. Books are competing with YouTube, gaming, group chats, social media and an endless stream of entertainment designed to grab their attention within seconds.
Which is why a great school librarian can make such a difference.
They are often the person who knows that your football-obsessed child might love a particular biography, that the reluctant reader could be hooked by graphic novels, or that the child who has already worked their way through one series needs to know what to read next.
They recommend, encourage and create inviting spaces. And, importantly, they can help children discover that reading isn’t simply something they have to do for school.
It can actually be fun!
That’s why initiatives recognising and supporting school librarians matter, and the work being done by the Emirates Literature Foundation (ELF) deserves attention from parents too.
✦ Celebrating the UAE’s school librarians
The Emirates Literature Foundation has honoured some of the country’s leading school librarians at the 2026 School Librarian of the Year Award, celebrating their contribution to developing a love of reading and learning among children.
The awards are organised by Emirates Literature Foundation in partnership with The Executive Council of Dubai and recognise librarians working across both public and private schools in the UAE.
Since the awards began, around 1,000 nominations have been received and more than 60 school librarians recognised for their work within school communities.
✦ The 2026 winners
School Librarian of the Year
Public Schools: Salma Al Helali, Al Taqadom School, Abu Dhabi
Private Schools: Desislava Kouzeva, Dubai International Academy – Emirates Hills, Dubai
Best Use of Resources
Public Schools: Ameera Al Humairi, Aljeel Aljadeed Kindergarten, Abu Dhabi
Private Schools: Suman Batra, Swiss International Scientific School, Dubai
Best in Innovation
Public Schools: Muna AlWahshi, Shamma bint Mohammed Primary School, Abu Dhabi
Private Schools: Jericho Diano, Summit International School, Abu Dhabi
Best in Community Involvement
Public Schools: Salma AlMansouri, Al Selaa School, Abu Dhabi
Private Schools: Louise Macleod, GEMS International School, Dubai
✦ Giving librarians a stronger community too
ELF is also working beyond the awards to strengthen the profession itself.
The Association of School Librarians, established by Emirates Literature Foundation in 2025 under the patronage of the Community Development Authority, gives librarians across the UAE opportunities to connect, share ideas and develop professionally.
Membership is free for UAE school librarians and includes access to forums, networking, workshops and training, while the Association also advocates for greater recognition of the profession.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of Emirates Literature Foundation and Board Member of the Association of School Librarians, said the community is united by one central purpose:
“Helping children discover the joy of reading.”
Bolooki also described school librarians as a community that continually shares “ideas, resources and encouragement” with one another, with the Association providing a dedicated place for them to learn and grow professionally.
✦ Reading should be about more than schoolwork
The awards ceremony formed part of the Reading for Pleasure Caravan Conference 2026, a four-day event bringing together educators, librarians, policymakers, reading advocates, parents and students from across the UAE.
And perhaps the words reading for pleasure are the most important ones for parents.
Of course we want our children to become confident readers. We want them to build vocabulary, understand what they read and do well academically.
But we also want them to know what it feels like to get completely lost in a story. To discover a subject they suddenly want to know everything about. To have a favourite author. To ask for another book.
ELF says the wider initiative deliberately looks beyond academic achievement, focusing on helping young people develop a lasting enjoyment of reading, together with the skills and confidence that come with it.
And sometimes, the person who helps a child make that discovery isn’t a parent or a teacher.
It’s the librarian who quietly says: “I think I have a book you might like.”
