Planning and Organization of an International Conference on the Design and Development of Public Library Services in Iran: From a Woman’s Critical Autoethnographic Leadership Perspective

Abstract

This chapter presents a critical autoethnographic narrative of organizing the first International Conference on the Design and Development of Public Library Services in Iran (May 17–18, 2022), offering insights into the challenges and opportunities of leading such an event. The chapter explores the leadership experiences and strategic processes involved, highlighting the complexities of navigating social, cultural, and structural barriers. The conference theme, selected to align with the association’s values, emphasized fostering innovation, inclusivity, and knowledge-sharing within the public library sector. The narrative focuses on the pivotal role of one Iranian woman (namely, the author) who led the planning and organization of this international event. As a female leader navigating a traditionally male-dominated landscape, her journey illustrates both the challenges and triumphs of breaking barriers in professional leadership. The successful execution of the conference not only highlighted Iran’s contributions to global discussions on public libraries but also demonstrated the transformative potential of women’s leadership. The chapter examines personal and institutional obstacles encountered during the event’s organization, offering practical solutions for overcoming societal expectations and systemic limitations. It further explores how strategic decision-making, innovative approaches, and resilience contributed to creating a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange among library professionals. This chapter underscores the importance of inclusive leadership and the vital role women can play in steering international professional events. It advocates for recognizing women’s leadership capabilities within the library and information science sector while offering insights and inspiration for those aspiring to lead impactful initiatives in challenging contexts.

Cite this work

No public copy is stored for this record, so only the metadata is cited.

Stored only when both papers are in the corpus — 1 citations exist upstream.

Papers that cite the same references — the relational fallback while embeddings are still backfilling.