Bibliotekar/The Librarian

VOLUNTEERING AT INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL EVENTS

A SURVEY ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES AT IFLA WLIC 2025

Authors

  • Milica Tarabić

    Užice Public Library

  • Nela Tomić Bogdanović

    Užice Public Library

Keywords:
survey, library congress, international librarianship, professional development, conference, IFLA WLIC 2025, volunteering
Abstract

This paper examines the significance of volunteering, both generally and specifically within the context of professional and international conferences. Focus is placed particularly on IFLA WLIC 2025 in Astana, where librarians from Serbia were given the opportunity to perform various tasks and gain organizational insight into one of the world’s largest library events. A central part of the paper details the experiences of these volunteers, which are presented through a survey conducted among 62 participants of different ages and nationalities. The survey sought to analyze their motives for volunteering, their expectations from the engagement, and their impressions following the congress. The results demonstrate that volunteering substantially contributes to professional development, networking, personal empowerment, and the acquisition of new knowledge. This research aims to encourage future volunteers to recognize the inherent value of their contribution and to enrich their own experience through active participation, thereby contributing to the improvement of the library community as a whole. 

References

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Published
2026-02-13
Issue
Vol. 67 No. 2 (2025): Библиотекар: часопис за теорију и праксу библиотекарства
Section
Practice
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How to Cite

VOLUNTEERING AT INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL EVENTS: A SURVEY ON PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCES AT IFLA WLIC 2025. (2026). Bibliotekar (The Librarian): The Journal of Theory and Practice of Librarianship, 67(2), 133-150. https://bibliotekar.bds.rs/index.php/1/article/view/274

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