Celebrating the wider reading community

The ceremony reflected the broader role of school libraries in nurturing a culture of reading, with contributions from educators, students and organisations supporting reading across the UAE.

Students were also included in the School Librarian of the Year Award ceremony, with award-winning students Maryam Alshrafi and Reynah Singh Gahlaut sharing letters about hope in Arabic and English. Their participation highlighted the central role of young readersin the work being celebrated.

The ceremony also recognised The General Command of Dubai Civil Defence with a special award for its support of the ELF Reading Caravan, which has enabled around 100 engagements across the seven emirates over the past three years, including author visits and interactive storytelling sessions. Two of the Reading Caravan drivers, Ansar Mohammad Sharif and Shahnawaz Mohammad, were also recognised for their problem-solving skills and kindness, which have helped make these engagements possible.

Gavin McCormack, co-founder of Upschool and Education Influence, delivered a keynote address bringing perspectives from the Reading for Pleasure movement to the ceremony.

The School Librarian of the Year Award ceremony was held on the opening day of the Reading for Pleasure Caravan Conference 2026, a landmark four-day conference bringing together educators, librarians, policymakers, reading advocates, parents and students across the UAE. The conference champions an approach to reading that goes beyond academic achievement, focusing instead on helping children and young people develop a lasting enjoyment of reading, alongside the skills and confidence that come with it.