I first got in contact with the CILIP London committee when I asked them for some money to attend an M25 consortium event on studying library degrees. My library is not a member of the consortium, which means the event would have cost me an amount my tight budget did not have and so I chose to apply for one of their Ad hoc Profes- sional Development grants. I did not get it, but I used my reply to the rejection to say that I wanted to get more involved in the London committee should an opportunity arise to do so. Turns out, one can just do that and they will welcome you with open arms. Remember at this point, it was Novem- ber and I was barely more than a month into my first paid library job and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals still sounded like a powerful unapproachable entity to me. Turns out only the first part is true and in February 2020, I attended my first committee meeting.
Job market advantage
Then came the pandemic and furlough struck. I have used my furlough time to submit my Certification portfolio based in part on the events I helped organise for CILIP London and the new account- ing and budgeting skills I had picked up as Assistant Treasurer. I earned the post-nominals ACLIP and access to CILIP’s register of members. Knowing that I could earn these perks was hugely motivating to me, because I think they allow me to demonstrate that not only do I care about this profession but that I am good at the work it requires too – even if I have not yet had the financial means to complete a library degree. There are some people that scoff at the idea of collecting credentials, but I think they underestimate what a huge source of pride they can be – especially if
On the register of professionals.
they are hard won under difficult circum- stances. There are not that many ways to set oneself apart in one of the hardest job markets this industry has seen since the last financial crisis and it is an unfortu- nate truth that if one wants to live the dream, one has to find a way to do so. It helps that I truly believe that it should be part and parcel of every modern infor- mation professional to constantly update one’s skills and abilities. To reach out to neighbouring libraries, to network, and to learn new technologies and techniques. My chartership portfolio was full of that and I would like to thank my line manager Anne Griffin at RBG Kew for allowing me to spend some of my working time on visits to other libraries and conferences I barely understood a word at, whilst at the same time encouraging me to bring these ideas back to Kew. I think that exercis- ing and stretching my brain in this way has made me a much more productive,
engaged, and happy employee and I would encourage every employer of graduate trainees, apprentices, and new profes- sionals reading this to take this to heart: let them roam, be flexible with rotas and shifts. Your trainee, your service, and the wider library world will thank you for it!
Connected and thriving
CILIP and its community made me feel welcome in London and helped me on every single step so far with opportunities and encouragement. I hope the CV items I have had the chance to accumulate during my time with them will lead to a steady job soon. Once that step is completed, I cannot wait to help the “next me” achieve the same thing. For a connected sector is a thriving sector. Only were people come together do new things and new opportu- nities happen and I would like to do my part to make sure the next odd duck has it a little easier. IP
All new ways of working. July-August 2021
Strange things you find in libraries, Kew’s platypus.
A thank you letter in Latin received at the end of my National Service.
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL 17
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