June-July 2020 www.cilip.org.uk/infopro


Published by CILIP. Printed in Great Britain by Manson, St Albans, Hertfordshire.


Nick Poole Chief Executive nick.poole@cilip.org.uk @NickPoole1


A nations.­


lmost overnight, to help us come to terms with the terrible loss of lives and livelihoods, the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to a strange new lexicon.


Phrases like ‘social distancing’, ‘PPE’ and ‘shielding’ have become common parlance at dinner tables across all four


­Yet­some­of­these­expressions­have­more­specific­resonance­for­us­ as librarians, information and knowledge professionals. In a post on the 28 March, for example, UN Secretary General António Guterres wrote “Our common enemy is Covid-19, but our enemy is also an ‘infodemic’ of misinformation. To overcome the coronavirus, we need to urgently promote facts and science, hope and solidarity over despair & division.”


As ethical information professionals, we know that accurate information, evidence and transparency are the cornerstones not only of democracy, but of equality and liberty. The ‘infodemic’ of misinformation did not begin with Covid-19 and will not end with a vaccine. We must apply ourselves with singularity of purpose to the promotion of information literacy and critical thinking for everybody, everywhere. Promoting equitable access to information helps us to shine a light on the unequal distribution of power. The Black Lives Matter movement has given voice to the anguish and anger of­generations­of­people­who­have­been­prevented­from­fulfilling­their­ potential by systemic racism and the perpetuation of privilege – including of privileged access to education and information. As ethical information professionals, we know that knowledge can be harnessed either to empower people or to disempower them. It is our pro- fessional responsibility to challenge our own role in the historic subjugation of entire peoples and their rights and ensure that our future is shaped around real and permanent change.


The other new expression that is changing the face of our sector is the ‘digital pivot’. It has been truly remarkable to see how librarians and infor- mation professionals in all sectors turned almost overnight to support the transition of their communities to online delivery.


Whether it is the 600 per cent increase in online registrations in public libraries, or the determination of librarians in HE to deliver outstanding teaching and learning through collaborative tools, it has been nothing short of inspirational to see how our profession has turned its hand to new skills. Now,­the­‘digital­pivot’­is­rapidly­turning­into­the­‘hybrid­­library’­–­offering­ a blend of physical and digital content, experiences and services to meet the new digital capabilities of our users. Yet this creates new challenges too. Our budgets are groaning under the spiralling costs of providing access to content and research. Copyright legislation languishes in the pre-Internet age and distribution models for vital services like e-books seem hopelessly out-of-date.


Librarians and information professionals have been amazing during the pandemic. Now, as we look ahead to life after (or even with) Covid-19, it is clear­that­we­are­going­to­need­to­use­our­new-found­confidence­to­demand­ better, more equitable treatment on behalf of our new digital audience.


Nick Poole, Chief Executive, CILIP June-July 2020 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 3


Editor-in-Chief: Rob Green rob.green@cilip.org.uk Managing Editor: Rachel Middleton Senior Reporter: Rob Mackinlay rob.mackinlay@cilip.org.uk


Production/Design Editor: Richard Gibbons richard.gibbons@cilip.org.uk


Advertising Manager: Angela Krzyzanowska angela.krzyzanowska@cilip.org.uk


Honorary Book Reviews Editor: Diana Dixon diana.dixon@cilip.org.uk


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Front cover picture © unslpash.com/@claybanks Publication dates


Publication and copy dates for the next three issues of Information Professional are:


Aug/Sep: published 10 September. Features: 19 July. News by 28 August.


Oct/Nov: published 5 Nov. Features: 21 September. News by 8 October.


December: published 19 December. Features: 5 November. News by 26 November. Digital


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Incorporated by Royal Charter 1898. Registered Charity 313014.


Patron: Her Majesty the Queen. President: Judith Broady-Preston. Chief Executive: Nick Poole.


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