My name is Heeru Bhojwani.  I am currently the Librarian/Information Curator & Coach at the American School of Bombay in Mumbai, India.

In addition to my work as a Librarian/Information Curator & Coach, I am interested in sharing my knowledge and experience to help build and design Libraries. I can provide workshops for librarians on how they can incorporate their school’s curriculum in supporting the 21st Century Skills using a variety of reading, writing, and research skills. I have presented several workshops both internationally and locally describing the role of a library in its varied facets.

Personal Statement

Working in an international environment, I appreciate the value of teamwork and global interconnectedness. I understand that strong work ethics, flexibility, and enthusiasm are the keys to success. I am respectful, attentive, and eager to approach new challenges with a desire to learn and grow. When faced with a problem, I am proactive and dedicated to an optimum solution. I am committed to education and believe that education is the only important element in raising the bar of human existence and quality of life.

I started my career teaching in the elementary school, now a secondary school Library Media Specialist and an Associate EAL Teacher. I hold a Degree in Psychology & Philosophy, a Degree in Education, and a Degree in Library & Information Sciences and am recently certified to teach English to second language learners.

Key Roles & Skills

  • Maintain several libraries/Information Commons K-12 for over 800 patrons
  • Build digital and print collection by selecting appropriate materials to support the school’s curriculum
  • Member of a larger team in creating Information Literacy Guidelines
  • Work collaboratively with members of the teaching community by teaching skills to promote 21st Century Information Learning Skills
  • Interact and support schools’ parent community
  • Foster literacy through library celebrations

Presentations and Workshops

  • Titled: Ethical use of AI at the ASB UnPlugged Conference, Mumbai (February, 2024)
  • Workshop on Redefining Librarianship through Collaborative Teacher Partnerships in Bangkok  (November, 2023)
  • Titled: Leveraging AI for Enhanced Library Services, presented at the L2L conference, Dubai (November, 2023)
  • Titled: Visual Literacy with Picture Books at Muktangan, NGO (June, 2023)
  • Titled: Core Skills for Librarians online with KSIPD (12, 19, 26th November 2022)
  • Several workshops on reading, digital citizenships in many schools for teachers, librarians and students (2020 -21)
  • Titled: Literacy Development for Teachers with RazPlus, Sikkim. (2020)
  • Titled: Literacy Development for Teachers with RazPlus, Gangtok. (2018)
  • Titled: Professional Development for Teachers with Engage, Kanpur, Lucknow, Dharamshala, India (2018)
  • Titled: Librarian’s Path to Tech Integration, ASB Unplugged, Mumbai, India (2018)
  • Titled: Information and Media Literacy, through the MISA organization (2017)
  • Lit Fest, Mumbai: Presented as a panelist for Titled: Always a Lender and a Borrower Be – The vanishing world of libraries (2016)
  • Titled: Understanding Copyright and Fair Use (2015)
  • Titled: Replacing the Traditional Library, ASB Unplugged, Mumbai, India (2014)
  • Titled: iCommons: Replacing the Traditional Library, ISTE Conference, San Antonio, Texas (2013)
  • Titled: Information Fluency Model at the American School of Bombay. Presented to a group of specialists, PYP schools, Mumbai
  • Titled: Role of a Library in a PYP School, SAIBSA PYP Job Alike at Fazlani L’Academie Globale, Mumbai (2011)
  • Titled: Importance of Storytelling and Information Literacy, Conference by Akanksha/ Teach for India, Mumbai (2010)
  • Titled: ASB’s Interactive Virtual Library, Unplugged Conference, Mumbai (2010)
  • Titled: Use of technology and collaboration with Elementary School Teachers. Presented at the Unplugged Conference, Mumbai (2008)
  • Titled: Technology and Wireless Laptops in Libraries at the Nesa; Early Childhood and Librarians’ Conference in Dubai,  (2004)

Professional Development Conferences attended

  • Adaptive School Foundation Seminar Workshop 2023
  • PTC Certificate: International Teachers: EAL in the Mainstream Classroom (2022)
  • TESOL Certificate – Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages from Texas A&M University (2022)
  • IBDP, Category 3 – Workshop for IBSCA PD Workshops for Extended Essay (2022)
  • WIDA Certificate  Training (2021)
  • High Ability/Gifted & Talented Learners Collaborative Virtual Conference (2021)
  • Understanding High Achievements and Gifted Program with Anita Churchville (2020)
  • GOA Coaching and Teaching online (2020)
  • EAL Coaching with Alex Gustad (2020)
  • The Art of Coaching by Elina Aguilar (2020)
  • Cognitive Coaching (2017-18)
  • Visible Thinking with Harvard Graduate School of Education (2017)
  • Attended Responsive Classroom Training for Specialists (2016)
  • PYP Workshop for Librarians, ASB Mumbai (2016)
  • ISTE Conference USA, 2013 and 2015
  • Round Table Librarians’ Job Alike with international schools, Oberoi International School, Mumbai. (2010)
  • Nesa Conference for Librarians, Amman (2008)
  • PYP Conference for Librarians attended and Certified, Vienna (2007)
  • PYP Conference for Librarians, Czech Republic (2005)
  • Nesa Conference: Early Childhood and Librarian Conference, Dubai (2004)
  • Nesa Spring Education Teachers Conference in Bangkok (2002)
  • Attended all the Professional Development that are conducted at the American School of Bombay covering topics ranging from PYP, assessment, literacy, reading programs from 2000 – 2014.

Key Role and Skills in the Elementary School 

Maintain a safe and positive presence and assist patrons with digital and print media.

  • Work with students to help them use and manage their information more productively and ethically
  • Participate in classroom activities such as small group instructions, storytelling, and research projects.
  • Oversee cataloging of digital and print materials.
  • Support digital technologies to enhance student learning
  • Conduct regular audits of materials report as needed and assist in annual materials inventory.

Key Roles and Duties in the Secondary School Library

Provide access, instruction, and support, to enable students and staff to become informational fluent.

    • Align EC-12 Information Fluency Rubric/Curriculum with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school.
    • Collaborate with teachers to plan, teach, and assess information fluency
    • Work with students to help them use and manage their information more productively and ethically
    • Create and share digital publishing guidelines
    • Manage, facilitate and curate resources, spaces, materials, and tools for students, staff, and community use.
    • Update and maintain the library’s virtual and physical spaces and social media presence
    • Procure, manage, and update information resources in a variety of media
    • Provide methods and opportunities for ASB community members to order, obtain, and curate informational and recreational resources
    • Serve as a coach, consultant, and co-learner to manage to organize, share, and create information.
    • Collaborate with tech coordinators, teachers, staff  and administrators on the integration of information fluency and media literacy in teaching and learning
    • Share vision and highlights of Information fluency resources and activities with parents and community
    • Librarian – Reference and Information Services
      – Database Management
      – Liaise with database vendors and faculty for renewal/subscription of databases
      – Management and analyses of usage statistics
      –  Prepare help guides and tutorials for new databases
    •  Customer Service and User Education
      – Provide research assistance for complex information queries
    • – Conduct Library Orientations, Information Skills sessions
      – Approve Copyright submission forms and respond to specific copyright queries
    • Library Website Maintenance and Content Management
    • Collection Development
      – Liaise book vendors to build the library collection
      – Withdrawal of titles
      – Renewal/subscription of journals

My joys: