the profession through to the leadership. All three networks are free to join and open to CILIP members and non-members alike. From the outset it was clear that removing barriers where possible would help the Networks reach more people. Yvonne says that those who join will be “part of a Network that provides an authoritative voice on disability issues within the LIS community, with oppor- tunities for those with lived experience of disability to share their own voice at events and within public discussions. The Network will also provide a safe space to ask questions, share information, net- work, offer mutual support and reduce the isolation felt by some.”
The Network has also set out areas where it will be active:
l Education – informing employers and the profession about best practice, expos- ing them to new ideas;
l Policy change and activism – influencing wider policy and sector development, feeding into CILIP’s planning and delivery, and engaging in proactive advocacy;
l Recruitment – lobbying for changes to create a more inclusive and diverse library, information and knowledge workforce;
l Mental health and wellbeing advocacy – advising employers on how best to support the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce.
Yvonne adds that all three of the net- works will work together to drive posi- tive change, saying: “The new Network will also participate in CILIP’s Diversity Networks Forum, a quarterly meeting where representatives from all our diver- sity networks and CILIP’s Community, Diversity and Equality Group (CDEG) come together with myself to set and work collaboratively towards shared goals and objectives for improving representation and inclusion in the LIS sector. “They will also contribute to the setting of themes for CILIP’s new Changing Lives Seminar Series, a programme of virtual events celebrating innovation and thought leadership in the library, knowledge and information sector.”
It is also clear that CILIP’s Diversity Networks and their members should not be working in isolation and there is a role
28 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
for all members of the LIS community to take positive action. The network will welcome members from all backgrounds as it looks to cement collaborative work. Yvonne says that allies have an important part to play in supporting the networks and their efforts. She believes that anyone can contribute and get involved, adding: “Allies who want to support the Disability Network are encouraged to join. Allies have a crucial role to play in CILIP’s equality, diversity and inclusion pro- gramme. We have invited our Diversity Networks to co-host a forum for allies later this year to present best practice, col- laborative actions and knowledge to the wider sector. All our allies are invited.” The three diversity networks are part of a wider commitment from CILIP to help create a more representative profession. Yvonne points out: “As an ethical profes- sional organisation, CILIP is committed to ensuring that the profession reflects the full diversity of the society and commu-
nities we serve and that our practices and workspaces are inclusive. “In our Changing Lives position paper
[
www.cilip.org.uk/changinglives], published in 2019, CILIP commits to being an ally to individuals and groups that are under-represented both in society and in our profession. This means ensuring that these groups are actively included in our work, that we do more to listen to and amplify their voices and that we think critically about and take action to address our own role in perpetuating exclusion and inequality. The estab- lishment of CILIP’s three Diversity Networks is an important step towards fulfilling these commitments.” IP
l The Disability Network will host December’s Changing Lives Seminar, and you can learn more about the Changing Lives Seminar series on p5 and by visiting
www.cilip.org.uk/page/ ChangingLivesSeminars.
June 2021
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