Organizations

The Istrian Librarians' Association (DBI) is a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit professional association of librarians based in Pula. It has been active since 1953 and has operated as an independent professional association since 1977. The Association brings together librarians from all types of libraries throughout Istria County and is a member of the Croatian Library Association.

The Association's objectives are to promote the development of the library profession, represent the professional interests of librarians, encourage continuing professional education, and support the development of libraries and their services. DBI organizes lectures, seminars, and other forms of professional training, cooperates with library associations in Croatia and abroad, and advocates for a stronger role of libraries in society. It currently has 68 regular members and 4 honorary members.

The Association is the initiator and coordinator of three major projects. The Green Library project, launched in 2011, promotes sustainable development and environmental protection through lectures, panel discussions, film screenings, and book presentations. To date, more than 200 activities dedicated to environmental issues have been organized.

The Week of Istrian Libraries (TIK), established in 2019, promotes libraries, their programmes, services, and collections while encouraging cooperation among librarians. The event includes public programmes as well as professional development activities.

The Dobar Libar portal was launched in 2020 to promote quality literature and reading culture. The project brings together book recommendations by Istrian librarians and serves as a valuable resource for all book lovers.