San Anton School Librarian Noel Tanti was recently awarded the title of School Librarian of the Year by the Malta School Library Service.

This is an initiative organized by the association to recognise sterling work done in School Libraries to promote literacy and to foster a love of reading amongst students.

At San Anton School , Mr. Noel, as he is affectionately known amongst students, runs the School Library which houses 20,000 books, magazines and periodicals and is open to both Junior and Senior Sector Students serving a student population of nine hundred.

However the effectiveness of the library goes way beyond its bookshelves, as Mr. Noel regularly organizes book – related activities in the library to stimulate the students` reading skills, to promote literacy and to foster a love of reading amongst them. Through the support of local book distributors foreign authors often visit the school, together with local authors, book illustrators, publishers etc. Regular Book events are also organised by Mr. Noel in order to raise funds for the library to ensure that it remains a source of up to date information and reading material for San Anton students and staff alike.

" This means a lot to me, as far from just being a personal achievement, this is an achievement for San Anton School`s Library and its students" he commented immediately after being presented with the award.

Mr. Noel has an excellent rapport with all students and weekly Library Sessions are held to expose the students to new, age-appropriate local and foreign authors, different book genres, and also different library skills such as effective researching, evaluation of information etc.

“ We are so proud of Noel. We know what a pro-active and creative member of staff he is, so it is wonderful to see his fine work acknowledge outside the school,” concluded Vicki Anastasi, Head of School.