Latest news with #ALASharjahSchoolLibrariansConference
Gulf Today
14-04-2025
- General
- Gulf Today
ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference starts on Tuesday
Marking a significant milestone for the region's educational and library sectors, the inaugural edition of the ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), will open on Tuesday at Expo Centre Sharjah. Running until April 16, the event is set to welcome leading experts in the school library sector, along with school librarians, educators and education supervisors from the UAE and worldwide. Organised in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the conference offers school librarians a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore best practices in library management, and strengthen their skills to address today's educational challenges. Partnerships to foster advanced learning environments The conference will open with a keynote address by Becky Calzada, President of the American Association of School Librarians and Library Services Coordinator at Leander Independent School District in Texas. Her speech will highlight the role of libraries in enriching educational environments and fostering strong school-based partnerships. The programme features a series of specialised workshops and sessions. Dr. Margaret Merga, Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle, Australia, will lead a session on the value of reading for pleasure and its role in cultivating a school reading culture. Dr Elizabeth Burns, Associate Professor in the Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University in Virginia, USA, will present tools and strategies for assessing student learning in reading. Participants will also gain insights from practical case studies on transforming school libraries into dynamic learning spaces, including a session spotlighting the experience of Suncrest Elementary School. Another session, led by Dr Fawzia Gilani-Williams, Director of Children's Creative Enrichment Programmes at the Eid Stories Institute in the UAE, will focus on motivational strategies to engage reluctant readers and inspire a love of books. Technology, family engagement, and community connection On the second day, the conference will highlight the use of advanced technologies such as virtual reality, audio reading apps and artificial intelligence to promote reading. Cherity Pennington, Director of Libraries and Media Services at Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma, USA, will lead a session on strategies for effective communication with families, emphasising the vital role of parental engagement in supporting children's learning. The programme also includes sessions featuring school librarians from across the UAE, who will share their experiences in fostering a reading culture within their schools. The conference will conclude with a session titled 'Coming together through associations to empower school librarians', presented by Becky Calzada. An interactive space, the 'Knowledge Café', will offer participants the chance to engage with speakers and experts, network, and discuss a range of topics in an informal setting.
Zawya
14-04-2025
- General
- Zawya
Inaugural ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference kicks off tomorrow with global experts leading diverse agenda
Sharjah: Marking a significant milestone for the region's educational and library sectors, the inaugural edition of the ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), will open tomorrow (Tuesday) at Expo Centre Sharjah. Running until April 16, the event is set to welcome leading experts in the school library sector, along with school librarians, educators and education supervisors from the UAE and worldwide. Organised in collaboration with the American Library Association (ALA), the conference offers school librarians a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge, explore best practices in library management, and strengthen their skills to address today's educational challenges. Partnerships to foster advanced learning environments The conference will open with a keynote address by Becky Calzada, President of the American Association of School Librarians and Library Services Coordinator at Leander Independent School District in Texas. Her speech will highlight the role of libraries in enriching educational environments and fostering strong school-based partnerships. The programme features a series of specialised workshops and sessions. Dr. Margaret Merga, Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle, Australia, will lead a session on the value of reading for pleasure and its role in cultivating a school reading culture. Dr Elizabeth Burns, Associate Professor in the Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University in Virginia, USA, will present tools and strategies for assessing student learning in reading. Participants will also gain insights from practical case studies on transforming school libraries into dynamic learning spaces, including a session spotlighting the experience of Suncrest Elementary School. Another session, led by Dr Fawzia Gilani-Williams, Director of Children's Creative Enrichment Programmes at the Eid Stories Institute in the UAE, will focus on motivational strategies to engage reluctant readers and inspire a love of books. Technology, family engagement, and community connection On the second day, the conference will highlight the use of advanced technologies such as virtual reality, audio reading apps and artificial intelligence to promote reading. Cherity Pennington, Director of Libraries and Media Services at Shawnee Public Schools in Oklahoma, USA, will lead a session on strategies for effective communication with families, emphasising the vital role of parental engagement in supporting children's learning. The programme also includes sessions featuring school librarians from across the UAE, who will share their experiences in fostering a reading culture within their schools. The conference will conclude with a session titled 'Coming together through associations to empower school librarians', presented by Becky Calzada. Knowledge Cafe: Networking and engagement space An interactive space, the 'Knowledge Café', will offer participants the chance to engage with speakers and experts, network, and discuss a range of topics in an informal setting. The inaugural edition will conclude with the distribution of certificates, highlighting Sharjah's continued commitment to capacity building in the knowledge sector and its broader efforts to enhance educational and cultural infrastructure within schools.
Gulf Today
27-03-2025
- Business
- Gulf Today
First Sharjah School Librarians meet starts next month
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the American Library Association (ALA) are joining forces to launch the first-ever ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, scheduled for April 15-16, 2025, at Expo Centre Sharjah. This inaugural conference aims to provide a specialised platform for school librarians, library administrators, and educators involved in school library management and development to gain essential knowledge and skills development. The conference will feature a comprehensive programme of workshops and keynote speeches from industry leaders, offering participants valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices in school library management. Additionally, it will provide a unique opportunity for networking among librarians and educators, as well as exhibition space for vendors to showcase their products and services within the industry. Registration for the ALA School Librarians Conference is now open. Updates on registration procedures and deadlines can be found at . A cornerstone of the conference will be a comprehensive two-day workshop organised by the SBA, ALA, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the Emirate Library and Information Association. This collaborative effort underscores their shared mission to encourage sustained reading habits among today's youth, and the workshop will bring together expert librarians from the United States as well as other nations, alongside outstanding industry leaders and school librarians from the United Arab Emirates. Participants in the workshop can expect to gain new knowledge and skills to enhance their role in school communities and will learn innovative ideas for programming and student engagement, as well as best practices for creating integrated learning environments where students become sustained readers. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their own best practices and success stories with others, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes mutual learning and growth. Commenting on the announcement, Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA stated, 'As the first of its kind in the region, the ALA School Librarians Conference will offer unparalleled opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth. School librarians are highly important for educational equity and this conference will amplify their voices and provide actionable frameworks to ensure every student has access to resources that ignite curiosity and lifelong learning.' Expanding on this, Mansoor Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA said, 'This conference represents a step in the ongoing efforts of SBA to develop the library ecosystem in Sharjah and the wider region, and by partnering with the ALA, we will bring world-class expertise to the region, further cementing Sharjah's position as a knowledge hub.' Early booking is encouraged to secure participation in workshops, as well as businesses wanting to participate in the exhibition spaces.
Zawya
26-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
SBA partners with ALA for inaugural School Librarians Conference taking place from 15-16 April, 2025
The Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the American Library Association (ALA) are joining forces to launch the first-ever ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference, scheduled for April 15-16, 2025, at Expo Centre Sharjah. This inaugural conference aims to provide a specialised platform for school librarians, library administrators, and educators involved in school library management and development to gain essential knowledge and skills development. The conference will feature a comprehensive program of workshops and keynote speeches from industry leaders, offering participants valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices in school library management. Additionally, it will provide a unique opportunity for networking among librarians and educators, as well as exhibition space for vendors to showcase their products and services within the industry. Literacy and reading promotion workshop for school librarians A cornerstone of the conference will be a comprehensive two-day workshop organised by the SBA, ALA, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL), and the Emirate Library and Information Association. This collaborative effort underscores their shared mission to encourage sustained reading habits among today's youth, and the workshop will bring together expert librarians from the United States as well as other nations, alongside outstanding industry leaders and school librarians from the United Arab Emirates. Participants in the workshop can expect to gain new knowledge and skills to enhance their role in school communities and will learn innovative ideas for programming and student engagement, as well as best practices for creating integrated learning environments where students become sustained readers. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their own best practices and success stories with others, fostering a collaborative environment that promotes mutual learning and growth. Commenting on the announcement, HE Ahmed Al Ameri, CEO of SBA stated, 'As the first of its kind in the region, the ALA Sharjah School Librarians Conference will offer unparalleled opportunities for learning, networking, and professional growth. School librarians are highly important for educational equity and this conference will amplify their voices and provide actionable frameworks to ensure every student has access to resources that ignite curiosity and lifelong learning.' Expanding on this, Mansoor Al Hassani, Director of Publishing Services at SBA said, 'This conference represents a step in the ongoing efforts of SBA to develop the library ecosystem in Sharjah and the wider region, and by partnering with the ALA, we will bring world-class expertise to the region, further cementing Sharjah's position as a knowledge hub.' Early booking is encouraged to secure participation in workshops, as well as businesses wanting to participate in the exhibition spaces.
