As the 2025 IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC) in Astana draws to a close, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the outstanding work and innovative spirit that the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning (CPDWL) Section has demonstrated throughout the event. This year’s journey has been truly inspiring—marked by collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to advancing professional development for information professionals around the world. Here are some highlights from our more than 10 CPDWL activities at WLIC 2025:
CPDWL Business Meeting: Charting Our Future
Our annual CPDWL Congress Meeting on August 17 took place in a special hybrid format at the Zheitsu Congress Center, bringing together colleagues—both new and familiar, online and in-person—to reflect on achievements, share ideas, and plan for the future. We appreciate the observers who joined and contributed to the lively discussions. In addition to engaging with the agenda items, each Standing Committee member attending the congress received a special souvenir as a token of appreciation for their valuable contributions, especially during the congress itself. The energy and enthusiasm in the room set a positive tone for a week of dynamic participation and collaboration.
WLIC2025 CPDWL Business Meeting 1
CPDWL Section Dinner: Building Connections
Later that evening, on August 17, 2024, 25 Astana and IFLA colleagues from various countries—including China, Kazakhstan, Egypt, the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Norway, the US, and France—gathered for a memorable Section Dinner at Cloud 9 (Hilton). It was a joyous occasion to deepen friendships, share stories, and celebrate our diverse backgrounds. Heartfelt thanks to everyone for bringing a small souvenir from your workplace or country, and for joining voices in our rendition of “Dreamers”—a beautiful symbol of our collective aspirations. The positive energy and camaraderie from this evening fuelled us for the sessions ahead, inspiring even greater participation and collaboration.
CPDWL dinner at the Hilton Cloud WLIC 2025
Session 079: Jackpot or Jeopardy? Exploring AI and Subject Indexing
Our joint session with the Subject Analysis and Access (SAA) Section, “Jackpot or Jeopardy? Exploring AI and Subject Indexing”, sparked a lively and thought-provoking debate on the opportunities and risks that AI brings to libraries. Moderated by myself and Julijana Nadj-Guttandin, and enriched by interactive Mentimeter inputs from Luisa Marquardt and Camilla Notarbartolo, participants engaged deeply with critical questions around ethics, data ownership, trust, and the implications for smaller languages. The session underscored the importance of thoughtful, community-driven innovation as we collectively navigate AI’s evolving impact on our profession. Notably, together we launched the very first fishbowl session at WLIC, fostering authentic dialogue and exchange among participants.
Participants at AI fishbowl discussion.
CPDWL Open Session: Reimagine Continuing Professional Development for SustAInable Futures
The CPDWL Open Session, “Reimagine Continuing Professional Development for Sustainable Futures”, was a true highlight of the conference, bringing together panelists Ertugrul Çimen, Helen Chan (myself), Adriana Cybele Ferrari, Saif AlJabri, Soh Lin Li, Evviva Weinraub Lajoie and Diane Koen, whose expertise and engaging presentations inspired enthusiastic participation. With the support of our valued session partners from the IFLA regional division committees, the interactive use of Mentimeter energized the room—approximately 70 participants provided real-time “Likes” and shared their perspectives, while the evaluation survey reflected overwhelmingly positive feedback. Attendees praised the session’s inclusivity, innovation, and relevance, noting the value of diverse insights and lively discussion. We also invite you to explore the impactful papers presented, including Jessica BrodeFrank’s work on digital literacy and crowdsourcing, Babak Zendehdel Nobari’s research on managing AI risks in libraries, and Cristian Maturana Maturana and Santiago Villegas-Ceballos’s paper on empowering global south librarians through critical AI literacy. Together, these contributions made the session a resounding success and a memorable experience for all involved.
Panel and audience at AI Open Session during WLIC 2025.
CPDWL & M&M Coaching: Fostering Growth Through One-on-One Support
Our six coaching sessions (Sessions 119, 184, 190, 191, 192, and 193) created invaluable spaces for personalized professional support, with roundtable and U-shaped discussions where our dedicated coaches offered tailored advice and encouragement to attendees from 25 countries, including Turkey, the United States (USA), Kazakhstan, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Macao SAR (China), Kyrgyzstan, Qatar, China, India, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Morocco, Israel, Namibia, Kenya, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Ghana, Egypt, Malaysia, Romania, and Saudi Arabia. Participants from all career stages benefited from this supportive and diverse environment. Special thanks to Jorun Systad, Camilla Notarbartolo, Julia M. Gelfand, Florian Forestier, Carmen Lei, Tao Yang, Heba Ismail, Luisa Marquardt, Anna Cascone, April Manabat, Anya Feltreuter, Josephine Siegrist, Chiara De Vecchis, Hans-Petter Storemyr, and Elena Stöhr for their selfless dedication—your expertise and generosity made a profound difference.
Coaches and coachees connect during WLIC 2025 coaching sessions
Knowledge Café: Uniting Colleagues for Our Future
Session 142, our Knowledge Café co-hosted with the Knowledge Management, Education and Training, and Library Theory and Research Sections, truly epitomized CPDWL’s collaborative spirit. Through dynamic discussions on topics such as AI in the workplace and leadership, colleagues exchanged valuable insights and forged meaningful connections. Special thanks to all facilitators—including CPDWL Information Coordinator Joan Weeks and Standing Committee member Julia M. Gelfand—as well as the rapporteurs for your vital contributions. Thank you also to all participants for your enthusiastic engagement and for the warm round of applause following my wrap-up and summary of key points at the session’s conclusion. I was especially honored by the kind words from Maggie Farrell, Chair of the Knowledge Management Section, who remarked that my wrap-up was the best among all at our joint sections’ Knowledge Café at WLIC. Such recognition is a testament to the collaborative energy and commitment of everyone involved.
Knowledge Cafe organizers and participants join in discussions at WLIC 2025.
Heartfelt Thanks
None of this would have been possible without the teamwork, creativity, and commitment of so many colleagues—both on stage and behind the scenes. From managing logistics and facilitating discussions to supporting coaching and capturing memories, every contribution was valued and essential.
As CPDWL Section Chair, I am deeply grateful for your hard work and passion. Together, we have advanced our mission of fostering lifelong learning, supporting professional development, and building a more inclusive and innovative library community.
Let us carry forward the momentum from WLIC 2025 into the year ahead by relive some of the most exciting moments and stay connected by visiting our CPDWL Facebook page, where you’ll find highlights from:
• Brief Summary: CPDWL @ WLIC 2025
• Section Dinner
• CPDWL Business Meeting
• Knowledge Café
• Fishbowl Session
• CPDWL Open Session
Your engagement keeps our community strong and vibrant—let’s continue learning, sharing, and growing together!
With gratitude,
Helen Chan
IFLA CPDWL Section Chair