tant opportunity to revisit our organisa- tional archives, including photographs of the many people who have been involved in the Library Association, the Institute of Information Scientists, and latterly, CILIP.
CILIP Cymru Wales Relationship Manager Amy Staniforth once memo- rably described CILIP as a “place where librarians and information profession- als come together and decide what to do”. As we look back over more than a century of photographs, it becomes clear that community – the sharing of knowledge and mutual support and conviviality – has been the heart of our organisation ever since its inception.
Strength in community
It is this spirit of community that has allowed our profession to weather the highs and lows of the past century. Our community has stood together through times of war and confl ict – even in 1919, in the height of social revolt and with the spectre of a new World War on the horizon, our members were meeting to lobby Government for the rights of working class people to read and access free public libraries.
Our community has been there for the key moments of recovery and growth – in 1968, we were instrumental in the Dainton Committee: the key moment in the formation of the British Library. It was our recommendation that a new National Library should be formed through the combination of the National Central Library, the British Museum Library, the National Reference Library of Science and Invention and the British National Bibliography (BNB). In 2023, our community once again faces a number of challenges – from the spectre of misinformation and disinfor- mation to open challenges to intellectual freedom and attacks on ‘Drag Queen Story Time’ events in public libraries. From the fi nancial impact of public sector funding reductions to the need to protect ongoing access to specialist collections, knowledge, expertise and research.
January-February 2023
CILIP provides us with a platform to face these challenges and overcome them as we always have – by working together and supporting each other as a commu- nity.
Ambition and innovation Reviewing the last 125 years of our Association, the other thing to note is how often CILIP (and previously the Library Association and Institute of Information Scientists) have played a pivotal role in the key moments of library and information sector innovation.
In 1988, for example, the Library Association played an active role in the formation of the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, particularly the inclusion of the concept of ‘fair dealing exceptions’ for libraries and in support of research and private study.
Similarly, in the late 1990’s, although the ultimate creation of the People’s Network was the outcome of a paper by the Library and Information Commission, it was an earlier proposal from the Library Association that gave it its shape, scope and ambition to connect communities all over the UK.
In 2002, the unifi cation of the Library Association and the Institute of Infor- mation Scientists similarly refl ected a future-facing recognition of the increas- ing alignment of library and information roles (as envisaged by Professor Wilfred Saunders in his 1989 pamphlet Towards a unifi ed professional organization for library and information science and services: a personal view – a progression that has continued into the present day with the launch of the new Chartership for Knowledge Managers.
Now in 2023, CILIP is set to continue this thread of innovation through our work on the impact of AI, machine learn- ing, process automation and robotics on libraries and information services (pick- ing up on the pioneering work on library automation done by CILIP members in the 1960’s and 1970’s).
It is a key feature of our professional association that we are able to provide a forum and a platform for our members
to engage with new ideas, examine both their scope and their alignment to our ethics, and develop the skills they need to make them useful for their users.
Leadership
Finally, one of the key insights from the development of our celebratory year in 2023 is the extent to which CILIP (and previously the Library Association) has provided a launchpad for our members to advance their careers and build their leadership skills.
In 1885, even before the Library Association received our Royal Charter, we held the fi rst public examinations in cataloguing, classifi cation and library administration – establishing a pattern of our association as (in the words of one member) “a place of quality to advance my skills and career”.
Since then, we have worked in close partnership with employers, learning providers and practitioners to provide a quality-assured source of skills, expertise, training and professional development. It is salutary to note how many of the library and information sector’s leaders have been involved in the development and governance of the Association throughout its history. Through our extensive CILIP Community of Special Interest Groups, Devolved Nations part- ners and Regional Member Networks, we are able to provide our members with a pathway to keep growing and developing, even where opportunities in the ‘day job’ are limited.
The year ahead
CILIP’s 125th Anniversary provides us with a ‘golden opportunity’ to take stock of the 125 years since the Royal assent of our Charter. It creates a moment for us to refl ect on the people, moments, ideas and aspirations that have shaped our commu- nity since 1898.
At the same time, it provides us with a moment to look ahead to the future and to what we want to build over the next 125 years. Look out for updates here and online on how you can be involved and be part of this exciting celebration! IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 19
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