IN DEPTH
CILIP Cymru Wales – conference review
CILIP Cymru Wales conference 2022 took place online over two days 19-20 May 2022. The theme of the conference this year was Possible Futures: Sustain- able, Collaborative, Progressive. Kate Robinson, CILIP President, gave the opening address exploring the central role that information professionals play in helping their organisations and users work towards a more sustainable society. We had two excellent keynote speakers, on day one from Durre Shahwar, writer and researcher, who gave us a powerful message about engaging with communities, creating safe spaces and sustaining real connections with communities. It was a real privilege to hear Durre’s stories, reflections, and research findings. Our keynote on day two from Martina McChrystal, Director of Library Services at the University of Glasgow, told us about the Scotland-wide collaborative projects across library sectors. I was so inspired by the demonstrable impact achieved by the collaborations described; there were real lessons for what we could do more of in Wales. For the theme “Sustainability in Action” we had a presentation on the Climate Beacons, a Scotland-wide collaborative pro- ject between environmental organisations and arts, heritage, or cultural organisations to stimulate long-term public engagement following COP26. Also, a presentation on the role of the library in supporting staff at Natural Resources Wales: The Welsh Government-sponsored body responsible for managing the environment and natural resources of Wales.
In the theme “Sustainable practice in
Libraries” we heard about the British library’s sustainability strategy and decarbonisation work, and we heard about a project at Bangor University to install a new offsite storage inventory system that will provide a long-term solution to space challenges. Keeping NHS Wales librarians up to date with literature searching skills was the focus of the first presentation in the “Sustainable skills” theme, investing in the long-term skills of staff to improve the quality of the service offered. University of Wales Trinity Saint David are celebrating 200 years since they were established, as the oldest Higher Education institution in Wales. We heard
40 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
Beth Hall, Secretary CILIP CYMRU Wales, is Team Leader, Knowledge Records and Information Services at Natural Resources Wales.
how library staff were at the centre of plans to celebrate the bicentenary and how new partnerships have formed during this pro- ject that will ensure the library is relevant well into the future at the University. We were also treated to two interactive workshops: the first on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act and how it has been applied at the National Library of Wales. This workshop challenged us to think about how we capture and demon- strate the impact that our work is having towards the wider sustainability and well- being goals. The second workshop provided some excellent top tips on the art of collab- oration, a theme that was highlighted as so important towards our successful future for libraries in Wales.
Did you miss it? Don’t worry the talks are all available at
https://bit.ly/3OWkvKR. Over the last two years during the pan- demic, we have learnt new ways to learn and access training. Talk to your colleagues and find out if you can use some time at work to take a break and watch these presentations. I guarantee you will find something to inspire you, that you can apply at your own workplace, or for your own personal development.
Beyond the key messages on the theme of Sustainability, you may find you can learn more about other areas of the library and information sector; or identify speakers that you would like to make a connection with. There are other themes discussed as well: collaboration, engagement with the public, change, staying relevant, virtual working. And watching how others present is incredibly valuable – how do they tell their story, and how can I learn to tell mine…?
July-August 2022
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