Conference discusses ways to enhance student reading

Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the American Library Association (ALA), in collaboration with the Emirates Library and Information Association (ELIA), American Association of School Libraries (AASL) and the Combined Book Exhibit, the inaugural Sharjah School Librarians Conference is bringing together educators, librarians, and literacy advocates from around the world for two days to share innovative approaches for enhancing student reading and learning.

The conference being held at Expo Center Sharjah, highlights the important environment school libraries provide in supporting academic success and personal development.

Through collaboration and knowledge exchange, the event aims to empower attending library professionals to promote lifelong readers and learners in today’s evolving educational industry.

In a session titled “Assessing student reading and learning,” Dr Elizabeth Burns, Associate Professor in the Department of STEM Education and Professional Studies at Old Dominion University, Virginia, USA, emphasised the need for precise evaluation tools to measure students’ reading comprehension and understanding.

She shared a set of strategies grounded in the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) standards, aimed at supporting students’ academic growth and enhancing the quality of education delivered through school libraries.

During her presentation she stated, “As school librarians, you have a unique and powerful opportunity to guide students on their personal reading and learning pathways. Traditional assessments can often trigger a competitive reaction and overlook the incredible progress each student makes, sometimes even discouraging them from taking risks and celebrating their successes. Our goal is to inspire intrinsic motivation, to help students discover the joy of reading for pleasure and the excitement of learning for growth.”

“In the school library, assessment is less about grades and more about the process of learning itself. Tools like anticipation guides, KWL (Know, Want-to-know, and Learned), and formative assessments such as observations and interactive polls allow us to truly understand and support each learner’s needs. When we create authentic, engaging challenges with clear expectations, we empower students to take ownership of their learning,” Burns explained.

Charlotte Chung, Media Specialist at Suncrest Elementary School in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA, shared how her school transformed its library from a marginalised space into a hub of activity.

During her session, titled “Breaking barriers to collaborate with teachers, administrators, and students,” she said, “We wanted to make our library a fun and welcoming place where kids actually want to hang out and explore. Instead of it feeling like just another quiet room, we brought in games, themed book displays, and activities that connect with what students are learning in class. By working closely with teachers and really understanding what’s going on in the classrooms, we can create little pop-up sections that make finding books and learning exciting. Another thing I can advise is to team up with your local public libraries to unlock even more awesome books and exciting learning adventures that bring students and the whole community together! When the library feels friendly and inviting, it’s amazing how much more kids want to read and discover new things.”

In the final session of the day titled “Once upon an Emirate: Creative strategies to spark reluctant readers’ love for reading,” Dr. Fawzia Gilani-Williams, Director of Children’s Creative Enrichment Programmes at Eid Stories Institute, UAE, said, “Building a culture of reading is essential to keeping children engaged and excited about books. It’s a gift that enriches their lives and makes learning easier and more enjoyable. When we first took our students to the Al Ain Book Fair, many were more interested in candy, toys, and stickers than the books. However, after encouraging reading at home and creating real interest and excitement around books, we saw a dramatic change, and on our return to the fair children were eager to explore stories, actively discussing books, prices, and topics.”

Expanding on this she said, “It’s extremely important to let children choose their own books because that sense of ownership can truly motivate them to read. Providing diverse options in libraries, like graphic novels, poetry, and culturally relevant stories that they can identify with, helps children see themselves in the narratives and keeps them engaged.”