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Traditionally, libraries have provided a safe and inspirational environment for all sections of society and are well-placed to do so again.
INSIGHT
President’s View
Lessons from Lisbon F
IRSTLY, I hope you all managed to get something of a break during the summer months. As furlough
ends, Universal Credit payments are reduced and winter approaches, so a new post-covid challenge begins for many in our society.
“Heat or Eat” is a phrase I heard back in 2013 when I was one of the founding trustees of a charity (www.
planzheroes.com) that sought to ensure that no fresh food is wasted while people struggle to feed their families (or heat their homes).
Traditionally, libraries have provided a safe and inspirational environment for all sections of society and are well- placed to do so again. As much of the ‘white collar’ workforce is encouraged to return (at least in part) to their former place of work, many are questioning the veracity of the traditional office-based model. Yet being social creatures, we need face to face contact to stimulate ideas and reinforce positive behaviours.
Presidential Debate
It was against this backdrop that the third Presidential Debate took place on 29 September.
Last month, while waiting to board a flight to Lisbon to see friends and family, I struck up a conversation with the dispatcher who was about my age. I asked him what it felt like to be back at work. He said: “Don’t get me wrong I love my job, but I have to travel 50 miles to get here which often means getting up at 2.30 am. During lockdown I got used to real life and am wondering whether this is all worth it?” I’m sure that’s not an uncommon view as many have seen the futility of a long commute.
Apart from it being memorable since it was my first visit to London for 18 months, what a stimulating
October-November 2021
event it turned out to be with over 50 continually online – if you missed it, the recording is here: https://vimeo. com/618734511. Among many insightful contributions from the virtual ‘floor’:
“Interesting conversation. Office used to be the default. Office is now an option to support me to do my work. The focus should be on what kind of work am I doing, and how best to get it done.”
A massive shout out to Luis, Neil, and Rob for their energetic and informed participation.
My takeaway: #DistributedWorking is here to stay but, there is much to do to change the ‘presenteeism’ culture that is rapidly transferring from physical to virtual working. And, to accommodate the social needs of an increasingly transient workforce, town centres need to provide more cultural hubs that used to be synonymous with libraries.
In conversation with... On my way back from Lisbon, I stopped by the office of a prominent Portuguese law firm to see a great CILIP supporter, Ana Paula Aleixo, their Director of Knowledge Management. A couple of highlights (apart from the view): the use of art to highlight their global reach; and an installation of legal reference books which the curator garnered from the partners who only found out why when the installation was unveiled!
And finally: in search of tolerance I discovered that the week of my visit was the first where all staff had the option of returning to the office. It being a Friday after 5pm it was notable how animated the conversations were at the end of week gathering in the communal area on the roof. It being the time of the year when we all think about planning, I left Ana Paula with a suggestion. “Why not write a postcard or note back to
Page one of Ana’s note to self.
I still have time for a few more sessions in November before I leave office so, please if you’d like a chat and share your story then contact me on
President@CILIP.org.uk.
And finally
Thank you for reading this and for the kind words of support I’ve had from several of you in response to my last President’s View column. IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 15
yourself from this time next year. Imagine it’s October 2022, what will you have achieved?” Here’s an extract:
Paul Corney (
president@cilip.org.uk) is President of CILIP.
www.cilip.org.uk/
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