Is your school librarian a literary hero, tirelessly encouraging pupils to love books and inspiring them to read for pleasure? Then nominate him/her for the School Librarian of the Year Award. The winners are not only rewarded with fabulous prizes, but also the knowledge that all their hard work in creating the next generation of readers does not go unnoticed and is truly appreciated.
Held in partnership with The Executive Council of Dubai, the awards recognise the UAE’s best school librarians in public and private schools.
Rules of Entry
Who can be nominated?
Anyone who is working in a school library in the UAE can be nominated.
The award recognises outstanding and exemplary work by a school librarian working with any school age group up to the age of 18.
Who can nominate?
Nominations are invited from colleagues, head teachers, school leadership, students, parents and anyone with an interest in school librarianship. We acknowledge that librarians can be unsung heroes and therefore self-nominations are also welcome.
How to nominate?
Submit your entry by completing all sections of the nomination form below, and please note:
- Provide detailed responses to each question in the nomination form, including examples and supporting data.
- Each response can be supported with up to two relevant photos.
- Nominations can be submitted in Arabic or in English. For Arabic please click here.
- Only one nomination (the first one received) will be accepted for each librarian, kindly ensure it includes all relevant information.
- Don’t forget to provide evidence of the librarian’s positive impact.
How is the Award judged?
All nominations are carefully assessed and analysed, and the shortlist of librarians is then drawn up. The shortlist of librarians in each category (Public Schools and Private Schools) will then be announced in April 2027. Members of the judging panel will visit the shortlisted librarians at their libraries during the month of May 2027.
Nominations are judged according to the following criteria:
- What is the librarian’s role in raising academic and literacy standards in their school?
- How has the librarian positively influenced reading habits within their school (including reading for pleasure)?
- How does the librarian make the best use of available resources (including the physical library space, the collections and technology)?
- What projects or innovative ideas has the librarian introduced within the school to support the students and wider community?
- How has the librarian involved or engaged others in their initiatives and projects (including outreach with parents, carers, staff, librarians, and the wider community in the UAE and internationally)?
- Why do you feel the librarian deserves this award?
Please Note: The Award Consideration Period is from September 2025 to February 2027. Kindly explain the reasons for the nomination, focussing on nominee’s work and achievements during this timeframe.
Prizes
Professional Development for all Nominees
All librarians nominated for the School Librarian of the Year Award are provided with professional development opportunities.
Winners’ Prizes
Each of the following prizes is awarded to a librarian (and their school library) from a public and a private school:
School Librarian
of the Year
- Professional Development Opportunity involving travel abroad (only for the winner)
- AED 4000 Furniture Voucher/Digital Resources*
- AED 2000 Book Voucher*
Best Use of
Resources
- Professional Development Opportunity
- 4 one-day tickets to a selected amusement park in the UAE
- AED 2000 Furniture Voucher/Digital Resources*
- AED 1000 Book Voucher*
Best in
Innovation
- Professional Development Opportunity
- 4 one-day tickets to a selected amusement park in the UAE
- AED 2000 Furniture Voucher/Digital Resources*
- AED 1000 Book Voucher*
Best in Community Involvement
- Professional Development Opportunity
- 4 one-day tickets to a selected amusement park in the UAE
- AED 2000 Furniture Voucher/Digital Resources*
- AED 1000 Book Voucher*
The Emirates Literature Foundation is proud to share documentaries from the School Librarian of the Year Award 2025:
Playlist
3 Videos
3:28
5:28
5:08
Key Dates
| Nominations open | 6 October 2026 |
| Nominations close | 15 February 2027 |
| Shortlists Announced | April 2027 |
| Library Visits | May 2027 |
| Award Ceremony | To Be Confirmed |
Terms and Conditions
- The award is open to all school librarians working with any stage of school education.
- Nominations must be received before midnight on 15 February 2027.
- One candidate can be nominated from each of the school library in schools that have separate libraries for different stages.
- The librarian and the head teacher must be aware of and approve the nomination.
- Any librarian can nominate him/herself.
- Previous applicants who did not win the First Prize or the School Librarian of the Year Award from 2017 to 2026 are welcome to apply again.
- Only one nomination will be accepted per librarian and once submitted, nominations may not be updated.
- Joint nominations must be submitted as a single entry, and the prize will be shared by nominees should they win. Joint nominations are only accepted where two librarians share the librarian role equally as a job-share partnership within the same library. A joint nomination may include no more than two librarians.
- To be considered for the award, nominees must be employed at the same school listed on their nomination at the time of the Award Ceremony.
- All nominees receive a Certificate of Participation. Please ensure nominee names are spelled correctly on the entry form. Nominated librarians will receive the Certificate of Participation automatically once the registration process is complete.
- The deadline for receiving entries for the award is final. No entries received after the given date will be considered.
- The prizes must be accepted as stated and cannot be deferred. The prizes are non-transferable and there is no cash alternative.
- For any professional development opportunity involving international travel the Emirates Literature Foundation will cover the costs of the flights, accommodation, transfers (between airport, hotel, and professional development venue), and will provide a meal allowance. The trip is not valid on public holidays.
- Prizes unclaimed within the specified time period will be deemed to have been forfeited.
- The furniture, book and digital resources vouchers of the winners are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash in whole or in part. Also, Emirates Literature Foundation is not responsible if the Gift Vouchers are lost, stolen or damaged.
- The School Librarian of the Year Award winner must provide their preferred dates for their visit by June 2027. The itinerary will then be arranged by the Emirates Literature Foundation. The trip must be finalised before the August 2027.
- Entrants agree, in case they are shortlisted, to the Emirates Literature Foundation’s use of their name, photograph/s, and any video footage of them in relation to publicity and promotional purposes.
- Judging decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding these decisions.
By entering for this award, nominees are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions and agree to be bound by them.
Contact Us
If you have queries regarding the School Librarian of the Year Award, please email:
Anuradha Bajla:
anuradha.bajla@emirateslitfest.com
or
librarians@emirateslitfest.com
Voices from Our Community
“For ten years, the School Librarian of the Year Award has shone a light on the unsung heroes and heroines who guide students to the joy of reading and the power of research. Their passion has transformed school libraries into vibrant learning spaces. We are deeply grateful to our judges, who each year visit the shortlisted libraries to select the winners and special mentions, and whose dedication ensures the integrity of the award. With the launch of the UAE Association of School Librarians, we are proud to create a professional community where their voices, expertise, and commitment can continue to inspire and flourish. There will be ample opportunities for librarians to hone their skills and share successful solutions with others.”
“Belonging. Growth. Community. Three years ago, at the very beginning of my journey as a librarian, I joined my first ELF initiative. I have never felt alone since. I found something I remain deeply grateful for: a community that made this challenging and deeply rewarding path feel shared. That is why being honoured with the School Librarian of the Year Award during the UAE’s Year of Family feels especially meaningful. Because family is not only where we come from. It is where we belong. Librarians, educators, parents. We are all bonded by what matters most: our children. And the library belongs right at the heart of that shared purpose. Because libraries do more than grow readers. They help grow thinkers, dreamers, creators, connectors. And, perhaps most importantly, good human beings. When children learn to wonder, question, care and connect, they build far more than knowledge and a love of reading. They build relationships. They build communities. They build a better world. Home is where we learn, care, grow and belong together. A library finds its home wherever stories are shared, minds are opened and someone can say: I belong here. And perhaps that is why they say it takes a village to raise a reader. An award like this is never achieved alone. It is built through what we believe in, what we create and what we make possible. Together. So while I am incredibly grateful to receive this award, I share it with all the librarians who show up for their students and communities every single day, no matter what. The ones who care, encourage, connect, inspire and share their love of reading wholeheartedly. Thank you for being a remarkable and truly readmarkable village.”
