The Professional Development Workshop on Library and Information Services (PDWL) 2026, an annual professional development initiative supporting Maldivian library and information professionals, was held in Perth, Western Australia, from 9–19 September 2026. The programme marked the fourth year of PDWL and provided participants with opportunities for international professional exposure, learning, networking, reflection, and knowledge exchange, including participation in the ALIAWest Conference.
Organised to connect international professional experience with local application, PDWL 2026 brought together a structured programme of professional visits, workshops, conference participation, institutional engagements, presentations, and reflective learning activities. Participants engaged with a range of organisations across the library, information, education, archives, and cultural heritage sectors, gaining insight into diverse professional practices and contemporary approaches to information services.
Orientation and Professional Networking
The programme began with an orientation session that introduced participants to the learning journey, programme expectations, professional objectives, and opportunities for peer learning. The session provided a foundation for participants to approach the programme as an active learning experience, encouraging them to identify areas of professional interest and engage meaningfully with the institutions and professionals they would encounter throughout the programme.
Academic Library and Information Management
Participants visited the TL Robertson Library at Curtin University, where they explored contemporary approaches to academic library services, information management, and archives. The professional engagement provided opportunities to learn about the changing roles of academic libraries and the ways information professionals support teaching, learning, research, and access to knowledge within higher education environments.
Library and Information Education
The programme also included engagement with Edith Cowan University (ECU) City Library, providing participants with insights into academic library services, user-focused environments, and approaches to supporting learning within higher education. The visit enabled participants to observe how library spaces and services can respond to the changing needs of students and academic communities.
National Information and Archival Institutions
Visits to national and state-level information institutions provided participants with a broader understanding of the preservation and stewardship of documentary heritage. At the National Archives of Australia, participants gained insight into archival preservation, records management, access, and the responsibilities associated with safeguarding national documentary heritage.
The programme also included engagement with the State Library of Western Australia and the State Records Office of Western Australia, allowing participants to explore the interconnected roles of libraries and archival institutions in preserving, managing, and providing access to collective memory and cultural records.
Public Library Learning
A professional visit to Riverton Library provided exposure to contemporary public library services and community-focused practices. Participants explored the role of public libraries as accessible spaces for learning, community engagement, connection, and information access, while gaining insight into approaches to developing inclusive and responsive library environments.
School Library and Archives Practice
The programme further extended across educational settings through visits to Booragoon School Library and Wesley College Archives. These engagements provided participants with opportunities to examine school library services, educational support, institutional memory, archival practice, and the management of collections within educational institutions.
The visits demonstrated the diverse roles that library and information professionals can play in supporting education, preserving institutional knowledge, and facilitating access to information across different learning environments.
Research and Professional Practice
The programme also included engagement with the Curtin Hub for Interactive Research, providing participants with further exposure to research-focused environments and contemporary approaches to professional and academic engagement. The session contributed to the broader learning objectives of the programme by encouraging participants to consider the relationship between research, information services, innovation, and professional practice.
Professional Conference Engagement
A key component of PDWL 2026 was participation in the ALIAWest Conference, which provided participants with an opportunity to engage with the wider Australian library and information profession. Through professional presentations, discussions, and networking, participants were able to exchange ideas with practitioners and gain perspectives on developments and emerging practices within the sector.
The conference experience also provided exposure to academic pathways, research, teaching, professional practice, and broader conversations shaping the future of library and information services. These interactions expanded participants’ professional networks and created opportunities for continued knowledge exchange beyond the programme.
Communicating the Professional Journey
The programme included the workshop “Ignite Your Professional Story: Communicating Your Professional Journey”, which encouraged participants to reflect on their professional experiences and communicate their learning in meaningful ways. The workshop supported participants in articulating their professional identities, recognising their development, and considering how their international experiences could be shared with colleagues and applied within their own professional contexts.
Reflection and Local Application
Reflection formed an important element throughout the PDWL 2026 experience. Participants were encouraged to consider the knowledge gained from different institutions and professional environments and identify practices, ideas, and approaches that could inform library and information services in the Maldives.
By bringing together formal learning, professional visits, conference participation, workshops, presentations, networking, and peer reflection, the programme provided a comprehensive international professional development experience. It enabled participants to observe different approaches, ask questions, exchange ideas, and critically consider how international practices can be adapted to local contexts.
The Professional Development Workshop on Library and Information Services 2026 contributed to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education by promoting lifelong learning, professional development, and the continuous acquisition of knowledge and skills among library and information professionals.
The programme also supported SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth by strengthening professional competencies, expanding career-related knowledge, and providing opportunities for participants to engage with international professional practices and networks.
Through international professional learning and knowledge exchange, PDWL 2026 contributed to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, particularly by creating opportunities for Maldivian professionals to access international learning, professional networks, and sectoral knowledge that can contribute to more equitable professional development opportunities.
The programme’s engagement with public libraries and community-focused services also aligned with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, highlighting the role of libraries and information institutions as accessible spaces that support learning, connection, community participation, and access to knowledge.
The emphasis on archives, records management, information access, preservation, and the responsible stewardship of documentary heritage contributed to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, particularly through strengthening understanding of institutions that preserve information, support access to knowledge, and maintain documentary records.
Finally, the programme strongly reflected SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through collaboration and professional engagement across institutions, organisations, and professional networks in the Maldives and Australia. The connections developed through institutional visits, the ALIAWest Conference, and professional interactions created opportunities for continued knowledge sharing and collaboration beyond the programme.
As the fourth annual PDWL initiative, the 2026 programme in Perth strengthened the connection between international professional exposure and local professional development. By engaging with diverse library, information, education, archival, research, and cultural heritage environments, participants broadened their understanding of the evolving role of information professionals and returned with new perspectives, knowledge, and professional connections to contribute to the continued development of library and information services in the Maldives.
