CPDWL Section has written in its Action Plan what specific subjects we want to cover and work on within the next two years (2022-2023). We must review the Action Plan every six months and update the tasks, challenges, working group members, and timetables. It’s a decision of our Section made long ago that every standing committee member has to work in at least one of the working groups.

As our tasks are widely distributed across topics such as continuing professional development, workplace learning, life long learning, work-life-balance, etc., there are many connections with other IFLA Sections and Special Interest Groups. Sometimes we approach others to cooperate, and occasionally Sections ask us for collaboration. Some may be unsure what such cooperation means. And always we are looking for interested and experienced colleagues in the Section to become part of the working groups.

It is always different and isn’t easy to describe.

We have some projects and cooperations that are limited by time—for example, working with another Section to prepare a satellite meeting connected with the WLIC. It depends on how many colleagues are involved in the working group and what you must do. It might be very time-consuming for a while until the conference takes place. Or your duties are quickly accomplished because you have to book the venue or find the speakers etc.

Other working groups have been together for years, for example, the IFLA Coaching Initiative by CPDWL and Marketing & Management section. This group started working together in 2018! The group meets regularly every second month via Zoom, and we always brainstorming what to do next. We hope to continue as long as there is a demand for coaching in the IFLA family.

Every standing committee member is encouraged to actively publish their contributions on this blog, Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. We are happy to receive articles or statements about national, regional, or local projects that might interest the worldwide community, book reviews, announcements for engaging webinars, conferences, or summaries of these events.

We look forward to publishing not only in English but in your native language, too (but please with an English summary).

IFLA supports the collaboration of sections and special interest groups, so we have some requests for cooperation right now. Usually, Section chairs or officers will have the first contact, and we’ll send the request to our SC list. Most of the time, we can’t say what is planned in detail because the project will only develop through the participants. But if you are interested in the topic, you should contact us. Even if you realize in the working process that you can not participate as intensively as desired, you can still be an essential source of inspiration at the beginning.

Be sure that every cooperation in a working group with other sections will also expand your horizon and might be helpful for your daily work. In addition, it also might be beneficial in solving problems, sharing sources, and sharing your knowledge. It is also wonderful to meet people from around the world with a different view on a subject you think you know very well.

We look forward to your comments and feedback and hope we were able to dispel some uncertainties.