IFLA WLIC 2025

Reflections on IFLA WLIC 2025 in Astana

Since mid-2023, after returning from IFLA WLIC 2023 in Rotterdam, I have carried a very unique experience. At that Congress, I was one of the few Iranian representatives, as my colleagues were unable to obtain visas. What began as a personal feeling of loneliness quickly turned into a sense of carrying the weight of an entire nationality. Yet, it was there that I had my first experience as a volunteer in an in-person session, and I captured many of my memories visually. My participation was made possible through the support of IDH, Institute of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne, and it became a motivating force for continuing my professional and academic journey.

After Rotterdam, I began volunteering with the NPSIG working group and continued collaborating with the BCM RG. During the challenging days of migrating to Germany, these professional connections provided motivation to persevere toward my goals.

Once I started working in a German academic library, I encountered very different spaces and workflows. My passion for knowledge organization reignited as I realized that classification systems in German libraries are almost entirely unique to each institution. This curiosity led me to explore the topic further.

I presented my paper, “Custom Classification Systems in German Libraries: A Democratic Approach to Knowledge Organization”, at the German Librarians’ Annual Conference in Bremen on June 25, 2025, while my family in Iran faced the hardships of war. It was a challenging day, but I managed it successfully, and this topic soon became a central focus of my work.

At IFLA WLIC 2025 in Astana, I brought this research in the form of a poster and an interactive question: Should libraries have unique classification systems outside of global standard systems? Participants indicated their opinions using green and red circles, revealing fascinating insights:

• Technical librarians generally favored standardization,
  
  

• Librarians working directly with users argued that democracy in libraries means each library should organize information according to its community’s needs.
  
  

I also prepared another poster with the NPSIG group, showcasing the group’s two years of activities. Once again, securing funding was a challenge, which was made possible through the support of IDH, Institute of Digital Humanities, University of Cologne, and the incredible generosity of my mentor, Professor Dr. Øyvind Eide.

Visiting Astana, Kazakhstan, was an extraordinary experience. Meeting colleagues in person after two years of virtual collaboration, and seeing the results of our IFLA Camp and other projects, was incredibly inspiring. The city and its people created a warm and welcoming environment. I also felt a strong cultural connection, as many aspects of their traditions and games were familiar to me, reminiscent of my own culture in Iran.

My poster received significant attention from both the jury and participants, especially for its interactive approach. Participating in BCM RG sessions, where I was entrusted with a project, strengthened my sense of belonging and usefulness within the group.

At the end of the Congress, I left Astana with a sense of accomplishment, having received the Quality and Impact of the Work Award for NPSIG, and with renewed motivation to continue my projects and look forward to attending Busan in the future.

I also hope that one day, we will have the opportunity to host my colleagues from around the world for an IFLA Congress in my dear homeland, Iran.