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“BioBlitz and libraries”: NSK and Zagreb Library Association launch green libraries programme spotlighting the importance of biodiversity

The visual identity of the 'BioBlitz and libraries' programme.

The National and University Library in Zagreb (NSK) and the Zagreb Library Association (ZKD) have launched BioBlitz and libraries, a green libraries programme bringing together the general public and researchers for the purpose of promoting the vital importance of the preservation of biodiversity.

By organising the programme, NSK’s User Services Department and the ZKD Citizen Science Working Group (GZUK) intend to mobilise Croatian libraries in organising BioBlitz events – intensive field studies aimed at collecting data over a period ranging from several hours to an entire month on the species inhabiting parks, gardens and forests in on near their communities.

Free to set the scope and duration of their event based on the specific features of the nearby green areas and the needs of the community to which they cater, the participating libraries will be able to include in their event all users over the age of 12. The iNaturalist free mobile application, available in Croatian, will be used for gathering data.

Registration open by 20 February

All libraries registering for the programme will have to organise at least one BioBlitz event in 2026, thus getting the opportunity to

  • train their staff in organising citizen science activities,
  • cooperate with experts, researchers and local initiatives.
  • link their collections and activities to the surveyed species and
  • promote their social relevance through activities such as workshops, exhibitions, forums on literature, etc.

NSK and ZKD will be providing assistance and support to the participating libraries all throughout the programme, starting with online training that will be organised in February and March and focus on BioBlitz events organisation, using the iNaturalist platform, cooperating with researchers, attracting users and managing gathered data.

The homepage of the iNaturalist website.
Data gathered in the BioBlitz and libraries programme will be publicly available on the iNaturalist platform

The gathered data will be publicly available on the iNaturalist platform, which the participating libraries will later also be able to use for further data analyses and the related presentations in cooperation with researchers, e. g. at conferences or through publishing research papers.

All interested libraries may register for the programme online by 20 February 2026.