Amrita Kiwlekar Jain

Amrita Kiwlekar Jain is an accidental librarian on a revolution to revamp India’s traditional school library rooms into fully-functional & dynamic reading spaces. Born as a dancer, pursuing degrees in electronics engineering and masters in innovative education from European International University with research paper on ‘School Libraries’ along with a Diploma in Business Entrepreneurship from IIM Banglore, currently she runs 3 school libraries and 2 NGO libraries under the name of her one of its kind company - Libtopia, Future Libraries. She believes being a librarian we must read the most; hence between her voracious reading routines, she loves sharing in the Library Matters community her experience & expertise in setting up a brand new library to executing the a - z library functions; right from designing the space to curriculum designing; from book curation to librarian’s training. She believes every child is a reader. We just need to create the right space, content & opportunities.

Workshop Details:

Decoding & Enhancing the Library: From Space to Reading Curriculum Description:

Libraries, like any great product or service, deserve thoughtful design and purpose. This workshop helps librarians and educators reimagine their library spaces and programs by connecting reading curriculum, display design, and learner engagement.

Learn how to map reading goals, curate inviting spaces, and build a library that inspires curiosity, reflection, and a love for reading.

Monica Chandra

Monica Chandra is a seasoned librarian with 14 years of experience in ICSE schools in Lucknow. A passionate advocate for innovative library practices, she has conducted workshops and hands-on sessions for fellow librarians on leveraging AI tools and creative library activities in Lucknow and Delhi. An avid reader herself, Monica is dedicated to fostering a love for reading and learning in students and colleagues alike.

Workshop Details:

Decoding & Enhancing the Library: From Space to Reading Curriculum Description:

Libraries, like any great product or service, deserve thoughtful design and purpose. This workshop helps librarians and educators reimagine their library spaces and programs by connecting reading curriculum, display design, and learner engagement.

Learn how to map reading goals, curate inviting spaces, and build a library that inspires curiosity, reflection, and a love for reading.

Devanshi Joshi

Devanshi Joshi has over a decade of experience teaching in the IB. She is an Apple Distinguished Educator, ISTE Certified Educator, and Google Certified Educator (Level 2). As a workshop leader, she has presented at numerous national and international conferences.

A curious learner with an insatiable appetite for innovation, Devanshi is passionate about exploring how emerging technologies can enrich the learning experience. She strongly believes in the transformative power of technology and advocates for its thoughtful integration to create dynamic, learner-centered opportunities.

Devanshi currently works at Oberoi International School as the Digital Learning and Innovation Specialist.

Workshop Details 1: Digital Storytelling

Voice & Choice: Empowering Narratives Through Digital Storytelling

Description: Explore how libraries can use digital storytelling tools to give diverse communities the voice and the choice to create, share, and preserve their personal stories.

Workshop Details 2: Digital Citizenship

Citizen Ready: The Librarian's Role in Digital Citizenship

Description: Essential strategies for librarians to teach safe, ethical, and responsible use of technology, focusing on topics like privacy, media literacy, and online wellness

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Darpana Baria

As a Teacher librarian by profession, she understands the potential of a library and the role it plays in nurturing inquiring minds. She sees libraries as a safe space to explore the world within and beyond books. With technological advances paving its way to seek new information she strongly believes in the power of human connection in a digitally connected world. She occasionally writes a verse or pens a poem to share her thoughts. Art, creativity, and cycling are vital for her to de-stress. Painting her world with the magic of colours, she loves transforming the ordinary with her creativity. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself; everyone else is taken.” These words strongly resonate with her.

Workshop Details:

Exploring Critical Thinking through Indian books

Objectives:

• Understand critical literacy to become informed and reflective readers.

• Curating and using Indian books.

• Designing library lessons to unpack texts through a critical lens.

• Making libraries a bridge between the readers and the real world.

• ibrary as a multi-modal learning space.

Description: Educators will dive deeply into understanding the term 'Critical Literacy' and its importance in making libraries a safe and inclusive space for engaging through Indian children's books. The workshop will include hands-on activities, sampling texts and multi-modal library learning engagements. This will enable the educators to revisit their library collection with a community-centered approach, inviting diverse voices.

Gizelle Rodrigues

Gizelle Rodrigues is a seasoned Library Educator with 19 years at the American School of Bombay, where she nurtures a love for reading and lifelong learning among secondary students. She specializes in research guidance, academic integrity, and digital literacy, and is known for designing engaging library programs that foster critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. Passionate about integrating technology and collaboration, Gizelle creates a dynamic, welcoming library space that inspires creativity and intellectual growth.

Workshop Details:

Student Agency and Publication:

This workshop helps librarians transform their spaces into hubs for student-driven learning and creative output.

Student Agency & Voice: Strategies to give students choice in reading and research, amplifying their voice in library programs to foster genuine learner agency.

Diverse Publication: Moving beyond papers to support varied publication formats (podcasts, zines, video essays). Learn the library's role in teaching digital storytelling and ethical self-publication.

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Mythily Iyengar

Mythily Iyengar is a passionate and dedicated Teacher Librarian, with years of experience nurturing young minds in the Early and Primary Years, and now stepping into the exciting world of Middle School. Her journey as an educator has been one of continuous learning, evolving with the needs of my students and the ever-changing world of libraries.

As a core member of the Liferarian Association, she strongly believes in the power of collaboration, sharing resources, and lifting each other up. Gratitude and giving credit where it's due are values she holds close to her heart.

Beyond books, dance, media, and technology fuel her creativity. Social media she sees it as a powerful medium to connect, celebrate learning, and amplify the magic that happens in a library.

Workshop Details:

AI Skills for Librarians: Teaching Students to Use AI Responsibly

Description: The goal of this workshop is to empower librarians to guide students in becoming effective, transparent, and ethical users of AI. Through this workshop, participants will explore various AI tools and learn the basics of prompt engineering to achieve better results.

Participants will also develop an understanding of academic integrity and learn how to establish clear guidelines for using AI tools for ideation. The session will emphasize critical evaluation and source verification of AI-generated content.

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Vandana Gambhir

Vandana Gambhir is a seasoned Library & Information Specialist with over 22 years of experience in the field of information management and student learning. She is passionate about promoting the joy of reading and providing meaningful research support to both students and educators. Throughout her career, Vandana has focused on transforming libraries into vibrant learning hubs that inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Her approach combines traditional library values with modern digital practices to ensure that every learner has access to resources that empower them to grow as confident, independent readers and thinkers. A self-starter who is deeply committed and passionate about her work, Vandana brings strong leadership skills and a continuous improvement mindset to every initiative she undertakes. She believes that libraries are spaces of exploration and reflection where every reader’s journey begins with curiosity and leads to understanding, confidence, and growth.

Workshop Details:

Reading Journeys: From Engagement to Empowerment

Objective: To nurture the joy of reading while developing critical thinking, empathy, and self-expression - empowering students to discover meaning, connections, and confidence through their reading experiences.

Description: The session will explore how structured reading programmes can transform the way students connect with books - from initial engagement to becoming confident, empowered readers. It highlights innovative strategies that make reading purposeful and inclusive, such as choice-based reading, guided book discussions, read-aloud circles, literature discussions, and digital reading platforms. Emphasis will be placed on how libraries can serve as nurturing spaces where curiosity thrives, voices are valued, and every reading journey leads to personal growth and empowerment. This also positions the library as a vibrant and inclusive hub of learning, reflection, and discovery. It fosters student voice and agency, empowering young readers to take ownership of their reading paths. By integrating traditional and digital resources, the initiative seeks to build confident, reflective, and engaged readers who see reading not merely as an academic activity, but as a lifelong journey of empowerment, imagination, and personal growth where readers evolve into thinkers, creators, and changemakers.