Ms. Veronika’s Corner

It is said that librarians are the most powerful search engines in the world. They are the heroes who make the ocean of books seem like a pond to us. Ms. Veronika Lambova is the winner of the renowned School Librarian of the Year 2018 Award Conferred by Emirates Literature Foundation, in partnership with the Executive Council of Dubai. Ms. Veronika has inspired us with her transformative work in encouraging students to read, developing youth creativity and magnifying the importance of reading in the school.

Ms. Veronika Lambova at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2018 after receiving the Best Librarian Award from Jacqueline Wilson, the celebrated British author.

y number one ultimate goal as a librarian is to instil a LOVE and PASSION for reading in each and every one of my students.

I had to break down classrooms’ walls and open a virtual library where I can meet my students and continue to encourage and support reading through digital media. The Primary Library was transformed in to a Virtual Library. We moved beyond traditional book reviews by creating FlipGrid topics where students record short videos to promote their favourite books. Book Clubs where transformed into Virtual Book Clubs. Students even host their own book clubs during break without needing to leave their homes or classrooms.

Creating a culture of reading includes teachers, too. Students need to read, and so do I. As the Primary Librarian, I understand how important it is to help students find books that grab their attention and interest them. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to read to them. My role as a librarian changed a lot during the pandemic in a very positive way. I don’t have to wait for a library lesson to start, I can enter the classroom at any given time and read to my beloved students.

There are numerous benefits of reading good books. Studies show that reading for pleasure makes a big difference to children’s educational performance. Children who read every day perform better in school, develop a broader vocabulary, increased general knowledge and a better understanding of other cultures.

I would like to share some practical tips to help you cultivate a reading habit.

Set Your Reading Goal

For some of you it could be a goal of reading 10 books in a year. Another person might have a goal of 12, depending on various factors. Once you’re done placing a target number to your reading goal, then divide them into smaller goals. An example could be, reading at least one book per month in order to achieve a bigger goal of 12 books in a year. Be determined to make it an enjoyable process.

Make a List of Books

Once you’re done setting your reading goal for the year, you’ll need a list of books to back it up. Write out a list of the amazing books you want to read. Ask for recommendations from friends and teachers.

Read at Least 10-20 Pages a Day

If you’re looking to create a consistent reading pattern, then setting out a particular number of pages per day would work perfectly.

Set Reading Times and Days

Set aside specific times every day to read your assigned book. Put away distractions such as turning off the TV or the computer. Read for at least 30-40 minutes a day.

Get a Reading Partner or Join a Book Club

Get a reading partner who has a heart and willingness to read, and create a plan to help you achieve your reading goals.

Join a book club, you’ll need the right people to help you stay focused and encouraged towards not just your reading goals, but general life goals.

Every year March is observed as the month of Reading in the UAE. The Winchester School students celebrated this occasion with various activities and initiatives such as morning reading during the registration time, virtual book clubs during break and many more. We are transforming reading into a daily habit in our school.

The latest initiative from the Primary Library was to invite students from around the world to join our FlipGrid topic “Say Hello with a Book”.

This Flip Grid topic will be shared with students from around the globe. Our students can record a short video to introduce themselves and share their favourite book. We would like to show the world that reading is part of our life in the UAE. We aim to spread the love of reading in all languages by connecting with school libraries around the world.