‘‘ T
HE CILIP RPG representatives returned from the IFLA Conference 2023 in Rotterdam
energised and full of new ideas on how library, information and knowledge professionals can contribute to an inclusive society, one in which everyone has the opportunity to participate. They will be providing an update to colleagues.
Is your career or work pattern squiggly? The term “Squiggly Career” was developed by Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper in their Ted Talk “The best career path isn’t always a straight line”. It is viewed as the alternative path to the linear career, usually represented by a ladder.
https://youtu.be/1ALfKWG2nmw
Career breaks
If you’ve had any sort of career break it can be quite daunting to get back onto the career ladder. You should take a look at the CILIP web pages for information on getting reconnected and updating your cv –
https://tinyurl.com/ LibraryReturners
As a CILIP member you can join CILIP RPG for free and reconnect. Our members include those on career breaks, part-timers, retired and semi-retired, portfolio-career people, consultants, the unemployed, volunteers and those on parental leave. Email CILIP RPG chairperson Ian Orton at
ianorton5@gmail.com with any questions or comments.
Member profile Our latest member profile is from Susan Mends. Susan is a library worker and adult tutor. Her broad areas of interest are library education and training and she is particularly drawn to career breaks and people’s personal experience of returning to library work. She has developed a support blog for those who used to work in librarianship and wish to return called
Libraryreturners.com.
September 2023
By being the voice for those that don’t work full-time, CILIP RPG is letting me know that I can take part here. – Susan Mends
Why CILIP RPG?
Susan Mends writes: “As far as I can tell, CILIP RPG is the only special interest group to formally recognise members, like me, who have different working patterns and career paths that are more squiggly than straight. “The relaunched offer feels like it’s kept people like me very much in mind. I shouldn’t be viewed as a bit of an oddity if I want to take part in an event or attend a visit. Potentially CILIP RPG could become very important for networking opportunities. Meeting people professionally can feel very intimidating when you are thinking of returning from your career break. By being the voice for those that don’t work full-time, CILIP RPG is letting me know that I can take part here, that there will be members who will understand the choices I have made and that my needs will be addressed. “The group is excellent at arranging visits and I know this from past experience, e.g. I took part in the virtual visit to the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL) in June 2022. Library returners are always encouraged to attend such visits as they are an excellent way to refresh your professional knowledge. Often career breakers use CILIP professional registration or revalidation as their way back in and visits are an essential part of this process.”
Future hopes?
Susan Mends was a volunteer mentor for Women Returners (the Return to Work Specialists) in 2022, specifically on their career boost mentoring programme in Scotland which helps support career returners get back to work after their time away. Susan commented: “A wide range of mentors are used to assist the programme, including the recently retired. There’s a lot of valuable experience within CILIP RPG, of course. In future, it would be great to look into the possibility of matching
Ian Orton (
ianorton5@gmail.com) is CILIP RPG Chair and Senior Public Librarian
mentors with mentees to provide guidance with career development. Or if a mentor programme appears too formal, perhaps identifying people who would be willing to be part of a list of shared expertise and happy to be approached to discuss an issue further via email or LinkedIn.
“My second hope is that there might be more bursaries available for those of us not working full-time. Often it’s difficult to pay for a conference when you’re not in a library job and I’m pleased to see that CILIP RPG offers travel grants to the main CILIP and IFLA conferences. I think it would be wonderful to develop even more opportunities for those outside of employment, on career breaks, who are part-time, or on low pay, who may be without a training budget and have little or no access to employer funding. “I’m happy to be contacted to discuss things further on LinkedIn and at
libraryreturners@gmail.com.”
Further information CILIP advice on rejoining the profession –
https://tinyurl.com/LibraryReturners
Women Returners –
https://womenreturners.com/
Library Returners –
https://libraryreturners.com IP
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 45
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