My personal reason for wanting to become professionally registered was that even before this opportunity presented itself, I was considering a postgraduate or masters library course which, at the time, cost upwards of around £9,000. After realising that CILIP Certification was also a qualification I could complete along- side work at a fraction of the cost it was a no-brainer!
I wanted to continue to show a commit- ment to working in the library industry by applying for a relevant qualification to show that I plan to stay in this sector. I knew that gaining a CILIP qualifica- tion would give me an additional edge on my CV. My previous undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are outdated as they relate to further education which is why I wanted to update my qualifications and make it more relevant for my current role. My thinking was the practical experience I already have, paired with the willingness to study for a year would mean I was a top contender.
New skills
Registering also meant gaining other experiences such as a former colleague’s perspective of Certification before applying and other colleagues’ knowl- edge and expertise at different qualifi- cation levels. I was also looking to gain some cataloguing experience as this is not a skill I have much exposure to in my current role but wanted to change this. I enjoy studying so I wanted to challenge myself alongside my full-time job. Gaining professional accreditation was an option I could undertake along- side my current role, meaning I could still earn a living and gain new experi- ences and knowledge. I had to apply and then be one of the successful few chosen to become a part of a support offer being piloted within my organisation.
Support
Fortunately, my institution was also an Employer Partner. This meant I received a year’s free CILIP member- ship, had the privilege of having the fees
paid and had an internal mentor so I was very grateful for this opportunity. I had space for a new challenge, the time to study and a supportive network which includes my line manager, mentor, friends and family.
Having other library staff members doing the same qualification or one of a higher level was an important factor as it meant I could bounce any questions I had to them and ask for advice. I also asked a former colleague what her experience was like of Certification to gauge whether this was the right path for me.
I chose to have a mentor, although having one is optional. We agreed to meet once every month and I would bring up questions I had, clarify parts of the accreditation, share my drafts with my mentor to signpost me in the right direc- tion of writing reflectively, relating my evidence clearly to the criteria/criterion ensuring I was showing progression. Some meetings would involve looking at an evidence piece or part of my submis- sion, preparing questions and showing my
Important factors which influenced my decision included:
l Receiving information up front about the Certification structure (CILIP Certification guide)
l Attending a virtual introductory workshop (mentioned in the Certification guide and recommended by my soon to be mentor)
This was useful as the event explained exactly what Certification involved which really helped sway my decision. The transparency of the qualification structure from the outset is ultimately what made me apply. There were no surprises going into Certification.
l An understanding and fully supportive employer, allowing me to take time away from daily work on occasion in order to attend visits which would benefit my portfolio.
April-May 2024
mentor work on occasion. She was very positive, encouraging and motivating. One clear example of how my mentor helped me – she developed a timeline throughout the duration of gaining my professional accreditation which I worked towards. I gave myself a person- al target of when I was going to finish and developed my own spreadsheet for evidence planning and portfolio ideas.
The CILIP Network
Having my mentor meant benefiting from joining a CILIP group within my institution which contained a mix of colleagues that were on varying qual- ification levels. As a result, I was also involved in the Professional Registra- tion Network being piloted in my region (ARLG Eastern/CILIP East) which led to peer buddies at the same stage of the process as me. We would encourage one another to complete our portfolios and attend events on selecting evidence and writing the evaluative statement. I was also invited to present at the last event: ‘Assembling your Portfolio’. I would recommend Certification to others because:
l It’s a great way to learn new skills and knowledge;
l Being a reflective practitioner is a great way to reflect on how much you do in your role and is a useful skill to master;
l It’s a great way to network with other information professionals, visit new areas within your sector, learn how they work and explore new career pathways;
l It’s a great way to show your academic commitment to the sector and passion for your role. IP
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