CONTENTS NEWS
5 Longlist changes A new pilot to help more children join CILIP’s Carnegies Shadowing scheme as this year’s longlist is announced..
6 New CILIP strategy CILIP’s new five-year strategy launches, promising to deliver change by Empowering Impact.
7 Libraries through the lens The latest instalment takes us to Helsinki’s Töölö Library for a snowy reminder of
winter.
8 Planning for 2027 Plans are well underway for next year’s World Library and Information Congress with an national organisation committee due to launch soon.
9 Your place in WLIC Start to think about how you could be involved in WLIC whether as a delegate, part of one of CILIP’s groups or as an exhibitor.
10&11 Designing Libraries: Technological influence Designing Libraries Director Ayub Khan looks at how design promotes reading.
12&13 News feature: Publishing deals The latest developments in the ongoing contract negotiations in HE.
INTERVIEW
16 Cover Richard Ovenden
Bodley’s Librarian Richard Victoria Barnett. Page 20
Ovenden on the launch of the Libraries Alliance, advocacy and future skills.
20 Victoria Barnett CILIP’s Prison Libraries Group Chair Victoria Barnett reveals the power of access to library services in prison settings.
IN DEPTH 26 New Skills
Invest in yourself with CILIP’s free New Skills for the Future Library Leader training.
30 Go All In
CILIP’s Public and Mobile Libraries Group responds to the National Year of Reading and how to make the most of the opportunity to engage users.
32 International health Hear from the organisers of IFLA’s International Congress on Medical Librarianship, which comes to the UK in summer.
36 Paradox lessons Andrew Shenton explores Meno’s Paradox and what it
can tell us about information discovery in young learners.
38 Environmental partnerships
Founder of Science Owl Renee Tonkins talks about the role of libraries are a crucial part of her work to inspire young environ- mentalists.
42 Marking 70 years The Association of British Theological and Philosoph- ical Libraries celebrates its 70th anniversary.
COMMENT
50 Mediawatching Spring is in the air
COMMUNITY 45 Obituaries Ian Ireland and Diana Saulsbury.
46 What’s on
Your Guide to Members’ Fest 2026.
INSIGHT 14 K&IM
A warm welcome. 19 UKeiG
Traditional search is dead
24 LGBTQ+ Network Supporting LGBTQ+ History Month.
29 Schools
Every year is a reading year.
41 Facet The latest titles from Facet.
49 RPG CILIP’s RPG column signs off for the last time.
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Publication dates 2026
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Cover picture: Richard Ovenden. February-March
www.cilip.org.uk/infopro
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www.cilip.org.uk/empoweringimpact Designing Libraries and the National Year of Reading. Page 10&11 4 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL February-March 2026
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