NEWS Empowering the profession
CILIP launched its new five-year strategy at the start of the year following an extensive consultation with members and stakeholders. Empowering Impact sets out what CILIP will achieve alongside its community and partners over the next five years. A core aspect of the strategy is to visibly grow the im- pact of the entire information profession. Through the strategy CILIP will draw on the valuable contributions of the profession to many of society’s biggest issues – inclusive learning, innovation and growth, tech including AI, health and wellbeing, (digital) inclusion and social cohesion, trust and democracy, intellectual freedom and human rights. The strategy builds on CILIP’s unique ability to connect, empower and champion the whole profession. By leading thinking alongside partners, raising its profile and growing its influence, over the next five years CILIP will advocate alongside every part of the profession on their key issues. CILIP Chief Executive Louis Coiffait-Gunn said: “Society needs this profession more than ever and this profession needs CILIP to keep evolving. Our profession is trusted because it empowers people, equipping them with the information and skills they need to thrive in the modern world. Only CILIP has the ability to empower the entire profession, each professional and each organisation in it, to visibly demonstrate our collec- tive impact. I hope you’ll join us in this vital endeavour.” Empowering Impact will build on CILIP’s unique profession- al foundations from its values and ethics to its commitment
to training, skills and professional recognition, and through its recent work to open more pathways into the profession. CILIP’s advocacy, partnerships and unique cross-sector rep- resentation will drive the strategy – helping to empower every person and organisation in the profession to deliver positive impact with the expertise, platform, support, resources, rec- ognition, and vibrant inclusive professional community they need to thrive. Empowering Impact has been developed in collaboration
with CILIP’s individual and organisational members, mem- ber networks of dedicated volunteers, and a wide range of sector partners through a series of consultation sessions and town halls, as well as a public survey. CILIP’s Trustee Board approved the new strategy on behalf of members and work has already begun to implement and embed it throughout CILIP’s activities. l
www.cilip.org.uk/empoweringimpact
CILIP in Scotland conference
REGISTRATION is open for CILIP Scotland’s annual conference, with some notable speakers and engag- ing sessions already confirmed. Taking place in Dundee on 1 and 2 June, this year’s conference takes the theme Amplifying Impact. This year’s conference will be led by CILIPS President for 2026, award-winning school librarian Shelagh Toonen and will feature a wide range of ses- sions and workshops. Speakers include author and journalist Grace Blakeley; Mairi Kidd, a prominent figure in Scotland’s cultural landscape and current Director of the Saltire Society; Carnegie 2025 winning authors Nathaneal Lessore (Shadowers’ Choice for writing) and Margaret MacDonald (the youngest ever recipient of the Carnegie Medal for Writing). Day two features author, come- dian and broadcaster Robin Ince; and Klaas Gommers, the chair of the OMC-group on public libraries which is set up under the EU Work Plan for Culture 2023-26.
6 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL Sessions across the two-day conference include: Research
on the impact of Scottish public libraries on loneliness; Green wave: how citizen science and information literacy is being supported by Dundee Libraries; Scots language in the library; Scottish Action for Mental Health: Taking Action, Creating Change with support from Scotland’s libraries; Con- spiracy theories and tackling mis & disinformation; “More than one way to burn a book?”: Culture wars, censorship, and neutrality in Scottish public libraries. Early bird tickets are available until 4pm on 17 April. There are a number of funding opportunities to help delegates attend, including bursaries and sponsored places. Full details and booking can be found at
www.cilips.org.uk/ cilips-annual-conference-2026.
February-March 2026
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