INSIGHT


‘‘ President’s View


Reflect on the difference you have made


I


N my first column as President, while I was writing in what still felt like a period of change and uncertainty, I was looking forward to the opportunities opening up to us as a profession. I was reflecting on CILIP’s new inclusive definition of professionalism1 that moves us away from silos, with a vision of an open and diversified professional community where our skills and expertise are recognised. We were also celebrating our new five- year Strategy and Action Plan2


with


“We Are CILIP” emblazoned across the front of Information Professional and echoed in Nick Poole’s opening words in his column, where he wrote of CILIP being “here for everyone who has a connection to libraries, information, knowledge and data and who shares our belief in their ability to change lives for the better”. I saw this as an ambitious vision for our whole community, for us to work together to bring to fruition.


During the year I’ve seen its impact through conferences, conversations and actions. One of the most uplifting ways of recognising this has been in individual awards and honours and I thought it might be appropriate to share two of these that myself and John Trevor-Allen, CILIP’s incoming President for 2023, attended in November.


The Diwrnod Agored a CCB CILIP Cymru Wales Open Day and AGM was chaired by the fabulous Lou Peck, and I joined to hear the awards for the Welsh Library Team of the Year. In the past, these were awarded to an individual but with teamwork so important in recent years through such difficult times, the awards now


12 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL


recognise just how much we achieve together. Jason Thomas, the Director of Culture, Sport & Tourism Wales presented the awards3


and spoke of his


respect for our profession. He highlighted the energy and commitment we bring to our work, how we support our users, how we embrace and respond to social priorities and how we contribute to the health and wellbeing of our communities. “Library staff are resilient, kind, caring, adaptable and almost in the realms of the superhero” was a quote he shared from a library user in Myrtha. He spoke about the warmth and welcome our communities receive in our library environments and how the need for this is now even greater than ever.


John attended the K&IM Awards for Knowledge Management Event. Held online, he tells me it was a fantastic evening – prior to the awards ceremony proper there was an incredibly valuable chance for chat and discussion, much of which focused around the value of professional registration for the KM community and organic offers among colleagues to help one another with their CPD. The awards themselves were a fantastic showcase of the innovation and passion that is poured into the KM profession, as well as a reminder of what a difference effective knowledge management and mobilisation can make, across such a diversity of areas: as any good awards ceremony should, it left me feeling both inspired and as though every finalist well-deserved a win.


This focus on our achievements as teams and as individuals are ones I have seen again and again in the events and conversations I have been


Kate Robinson (president@cilip.org.uk) is President of CILIP. www.cilip.org.uk


This focus on our achievements as teams and as individuals are ones I have seen again and again in the events and conversations I have been part of this year.


part of this year. From teams battling with logistics and uncertainties to organise inspiring programmes for conferences to bring us back together; on a worldwide basis for IFLA in Dublin, for CILIPS in Dundee and CILIP in Liverpool and for CILIP Cymru gathering us online in May... and so many more.


Awards rely on nominations and celebrate the impact of our work and our profession and conferences rely on the confidence to share a paper, poster or workshop around what we have done and what we have learnt. Perhaps in 2023 a resolution might be to look at these and consider where you or your team may make an application or present your work, not just to ‘throw your hat in the ring’ but also to take the opportunity to reflect on what you’ve achieved and the difference you have made. IP


References


1 Professionalism Definition – CILIP: the library and information association.


2 We are CILIP – CILIP: the library and information association.


3 Team Award – CILIP: the library and information association.


December 2022


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