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LIBER Winter Event 2026

26 November 2026 - 27 November 2026 National and University Library in Zagreb Zagreb
26
November
2026
27
November
2026

What is the Winter Event?

The LIBER Winter Event is a one-and-a-half-day event that takes place every year in person at a LIBER Library host venue. It is designed with and for the core LIBER network; people working at LIBER Libraries across Europe, those taking part in our Working Groups and Steering Committees, and our partners from LIBER’s portfolio of International Projects and other collaborative initiatives.

The Winter Event serves as a stimulating forum for the presentation and discussion of work undertaken by LIBER Libraries across Europe. Do you want feedback on a new initiative? Advice on a project? Or are you looking to seek inspiration for the future? Through workshops and interactive sessions, the Winter Event gives LIBER members the space to set their own agenda and discuss the topics most important to their work. 

The 2026 edition will take place at the National and University Library in Zagreb, Croatia. The event will be preceded by a national pre-event, scheduled to take place on November 25th, 2026.

Set your own agenda; join us at the Winter Event 2026!

LIBER Winter Event 2024

Who is the event for?

The event is open to librarians and information professionals working at LIBER member institutions. This includes colleagues already partaking in our activities (E.g., Working Groups, Taskforces, LIBER Quarterly) as well as those looking to join a focused and engaging library seminar.

The Winter Event also welcomes partners from projects in which LIBER is involved, as well as participants from other collaborative initiatives.

Up to 150 attendees can join us for one and a half days of interactive workshops and discussions on the core topics that drive the LIBER Strategy.  In 2026, we are also pleased to welcome representatives from Croatian libraries to join the event.

Why should you attend?

The LIBER Winter Event will be a space for us to connect and gain new inspiration for a range of topics within our field.  

Through workshops and interactive sessions, participants get the chance to share knowledge, enjoy vibrant discussions, and collaborate on the topics at the heart of research library work. This is your chance to bring the topics that are most important to you for discussion with peers from across Europe! 

Theme and Topics

The topics of interest for the Winter Event will be based on the strands of LIBER’s 2023-2027 Strategy.

The theme of the 2026 LIBER Winter Event is “LIBER in Action: Connecting and Advocating for Research Libraries.”

Preliminary Programme

  • Thursday, 26 November

    08:00 – 09:00 Registration

    09:00 – 09:30 Welcome & Opening

    09:30 – 10:45 Plenary Session

    10:45 – 11:15 Group Photo & Coffee Break

    11:15 – 12:45 Workshops

    12:45 – 13:45 Lunch

    13:45 – 14:45 Plenary Session

    14:45 – 15:15 Coffee Break

    15:15 – 16:45 Workshops

    17:00 – 18:00 Side Meetings

    19:00 – 22:00  Winter Event Dinner (Location: Atelier Restaurant, Optional)

  • Friday, 27 November

    09:30 – 11:00 Plenary Session

    11:00 – 11:30 Coffee Break

    11:30 – 12:45 Plenary Session

    12:45 – 13:00 Fast Forward Session & Closing

    13:00 – 14:00 Lunch (Grab & Go)

    14:00-15:30 Guided Tour – NSK (Free, prior registration required)

    During our guided tour, apart from seeing the Library’s impressive spaces, you will be able to learn about its rich history and invaluable collections, which we have been assembling, preserving, curating and making available for over 4 centuries.

    14:00-15:30 Guided Tour – Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Library (Free, prior registration required

    During this guided tour, participants will learn about the largest Croatian faculty library with the collection of more than 500.000 items. The library is located within walking distance of NSK, approximately 500 meters away.

Winter Event Venue

LIBER Winter Event 2026 will take place in the lateral wing of the National and University Library (Croatrium). As this part of the building is also used by the Croatian Government, all visitors must provide their full name and ID card or passport number in advance for security reasons (GDPR compliant).

The event will be held in several conference rooms: Judita (the main conference hall), Juran, Krsto, Barbara, Laura, and Osman. Conference rooms Barbara, Laura, and Osman are located on the mezzanine level and accessible by stairs.

Participants with disabilities are welcome to request assistance if needed (e.g., using the elevator). Accessible toilets are available on both levels. For assistance during the event, please contact us at liberwe.zagreb2026@nsk.hr.

Persons with disabilities may reach the Library’s entrance by using a ramp on the right of the entrance. 

NSK is located south of the city centre at the following address: 

Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica (NSK)
Ulica Hrvatske bratske zajednice 4
10 000 Zagreb Croatia (Hrvatska) 

Getting to and around Zagreb

  • Getting around Zagreb

    Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is a vibrant metropolis where Central Europe, Southeast Europe, and the Mediterranean converge. Conveniently located near Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it offers visitors a unique urban mosaic where everything is within easy reach. 

    More information about Zagreb is available at Info Zagreb or Croatia Full of Life. 

  • Directions to NSK

    By foot

    • Within a 30-minute walking distance of the main square, Trg bana Josipa Jelačića (visit Google Maps for directions) 

    By public transport: 

    • Tram lines 3, 5, 13 (the “Lisinski” stop) 
    • Bus lines:

    108, 166, 218, 219, 220, 221, 229, 234, 241, 242, 243, 268, 281, 310, 311, 313 (the “Lisinski” stop when travelling from north to south – from Main train station to NSK) 

    108, 166, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 229, 234, 241, 242, 243, 268, 281 (the “Nacionalna i sveučilišna knjižnica” stop when travelling from south to north),  

    By taxi 

    • Taxi 1717, Uber, and Bolt are the most commonly used taxi services in Zagreb and are generally considered reliable. 

    By bicycle 

    • Bajs – bikesharing service by the city of Zagreb available by app with parking facilities in front of the Library’s entrance 

    By train

    • After getting off at the Zagreb Main Railway Station, you can reach NSK by a pleasant 15-minute walk or by tram/bus as specified above 

    By car

    • Visit Google Maps for directions
    • Onsite parking is available for prices and on terms specified by ZagrebParking and may be paid via SMS service 
    • The maximum period is three hours

  • Directions from the Airport

    Zagreb International Airport (Franjo Tuđman Airport ZAG) is located just 17 km from the city centre, or 20-25 minutes by bus and by car. 

    There are direct, scheduled flights to Zagreb from numerous European cities. Information on take-off and landing of aircraft can be found at www.zagreb-airport.hr  

    How to get from and to Airport:

    Pleso Prijevoz operates regular shuttle bus service between Zagreb Airport and Zagreb Central Bus Station. Pleso Prijevoz also operates regular shuttle bus service between Zagreb Airport and Rijeka. More information about the services can be found at Pleso Prijevoz’s website. The ride duration: 35-40 minutes 

    ZET is the company offering public transportation in and around the city of Zagreb. Bus line 290 operates between Kvaternik Square and Velika Gorica, with a stop at Zagreb Airport in each direction. Timetable for the bus line 290 can be found at ZET’s website. The ride duration: 45-50 minutes. 

     The Taxi Pick-up Area is located in the immediate vicinity of the Arrivals Meet & Greet area, Ground Floor, of the passenger terminal. Currently, the taxi service provider in contract with the airport management company is the Taxi Association of Velika Gorica (Taxi Gorica). More information on taxi service is available at website. 

    In Zagreb, both Uber and Bolt are available, and participants can use these apps for transfers to and from the airport. 

    Rent-a-car service is available for all passengers.  

    More information: https://www.zagreb-airport.hr/en/passengers/to-from-the-airport/35  

  • Arriving by Train

    The Main Railway Station is located in the centre of the City, at King Tomislav Square, just 10 minutes walk from the central city square. 

    The main railway lines: 

    • Trieste – Ljubljana – Zagreb 
    • Graz – Maribor – Zagreb 
    • Klagenfurt – Ljubljana – Zagreb 
    • Budapest – Varaždin – Zagreb 

    Information about arrivals and departures of national trains can be found at https://prodaja.hzpp.hr/ 

    Please note that trains may experience delays due to ongoing railway construction works.

  • Arriving by Bus

    The bus terminal, Zagreb Bus Station is on Marin Držić Avenue, and it’s only a few minutes away from the central city square (Ban Josip Jelačić Square, by tram (line 6)). 

    It is the biggest and most up-to-date bus station in this part of Europe, enabling fast and safe transport to all its passengers. From 44 platforms, buses connect Zagreb with other parts of Croatia, as well as with most other major cities in Europe. 

    Information about arrivals and departures of buses can be found at https://www.akz.hr/ 

  • Arriving by Car

    Major international road routes are: Trieste – Ljubljana – Zagreb, Graz – Maribor – Zagreb, Klagenfurt – Ljubljana – Zagreb, Budapest – Varaždin – Zagreb. 

    Distances: Amsterdam 1412 km, Berlin 1434 km, Bratislava 397 km, Brussels 1963 km, Budapest 372 km, London 1678 km, Ljubljana 135 km, Milan 672 km, Paris 1574 km, Prague 949 km, Vienna 371 km. 

  • Travel Tips & Tricks

    • Language: Croatian is the official language, but English is also widely spoken 
    • Currency: Euro (EUR) 
    • Payment methods: Cash and credit cards are widely accepted 
    • Drinking water: Zagreb’s tap water is of excellent quality and is safe to drink unless otherwise indicated. Bottled water is available in supermarkets, convenience stores, newsstands, and petrol stations 
    • Weather: In November, the weather can be rainy, windy, and cold, with an average temperature of around 5°C 
    • Electricity: Zagreb uses a 230 V electricity supply (50 Hz AC) and Type C and Type F (Schuko) power outlets. Visitors from countries that use different electric energy system (e.g. UK or Ireland) will need an adapter. Some hotels offer them, or you can buy one in most shops carrying electronic or IT equipment) 
    • Roaming: “Roam Like at Home” (RLAH) regulations apply to visitors from EU/EEA countries. Visitors from the UK should check the roaming conditions offered by their mobile provider. For visitors from countries outside the EU/EEA (e.g. Switzerland, Serbia…), RLAH regulations do not apply. The main mobile network providers in Croatia are A1 Hrvatska, Hrvatski Telekom (HT), and Telemach. Visitors can also use eSIM cards 
    • Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi is available in many cafés, hotels, and other public places throughout the city 

Staying in Zagreb

Accommodation 

Participants are responsible for their own accommodation during their stay in Zagreb. They can choose from a wide range of hotels and apartments in Zagreb.

However, the hosts have put together a list of hotels to help participants with their choice. There is a selection of hotels within walking distance, in the city centre, or near the main bus and train stations. 

Hotel International (5 min walk from NSK, 4*) – hosts have negotiated special rates, please use promo code NSKLIBER26 

 

5* hotels 
  • Esplanade Zagreb Hotel (18 min walk, near Main train station) 
  • art’otel Zagreb (27 min walk, city centre) 
  • Le Premier Boutique Hotel Zagreb (30 min walk, city centre) 
4* hotels 

Hotels near Bus terminal: 

  • Avenue 21 (25 min walk, direct tram line 5 to the „Lisinski“ stop) 
  • Hotel 9 (28 min walk, direct tram line 5 to the „Lisinski“ stop) 
  • Hotel iNova (28 min walk, direct tram line 5 the to „Lisinski“ stop) 
3* hotels 

For apartment accommodation, please check sites such as Booking.com or Airbnb.

For detailed directions between the hotels and NSK, please check Google Maps. 

About the National and University Library in Zagreb

The National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) is Croatia’s leading cultural and research institution and the central institution of the Croatian national library system. It serves both as the national library of the Republic of Croatia and as the main library of the University of Zagreb. 

NSK collects, protects, preserves, catalogues, provides access to, and promotes Croatia’s rich cultural and scientific heritage, while also developing and advancing the library profession in Croatia. Providing library and information services, together with conducting related research and development activities, represents the core mission of the National and University Library in Zagreb. 

These activities encompass a wide range of additional responsibilities and specialized tasks, among which the following particularly stand out: the creation and maintenance of the Croatian Bibliography; serving as the center of the Croatian library and information system; the development of Croatica, Croatia’s national library collection and a protected cultural asset; and other activities related to the preservation, accessibility, and promotion of Croatian cultural heritage. 

Photo Credit

National and University Library in Zagreb images at the courtesy of NSK.

Winter Event 2024 group photo captured by Boštjan Lah.