This ‘both sides of the coin’ approach provided a comprehensive insight into the purpose, value and consequences of transformative agreements, as well as potential alternatives for the future. Later, a session on cybersecurity jointly delivered by Experian and The British Library explored the threat of ransom- ware, which has evolved from a singular crime to an established business model with its own supply chain and increas- ingly sophisticated tactics. I found these sessions incredibly eye-opening, as it highlighted the value our sector holds to attackers and how academic publishing could change in the future.
A lunchtime keynote on the alarming trend of truth decay in Europe rein- forced the responsibility we have as library and information professionals to be proactive in turning the tide against mis- and disinformation in public discourse. Finally, in an interactive workshop aimed at developing futures literacy, we worked in groups to com- plete practical exercises which showed how any library or information service could prepare for a range of future scenarios (good or bad).
Packed with big conversations that sought to restate the purpose and pri- orities of our profession, the first of the conference fostered a sense of collective purpose, reminding us that by embrac- ing innovation and collaboration, we can drive our profession forward in a rapidly evolving world.
Finally, I couldn’t finish up Day One without mentioning the Presidential Dinner, which was a fantastic night all round. I had a truly memorable time discussing the day’s events with fellow delegates from across the sector, as well as dancing to an amazing funk-soul band!
Day Two: Reimagining libraries – and the library leader – for a changing world
The second day of the conference was all about change and innova- tion, and, fittingly, opened with the announcement of a new CILIP policy on Intellectual Freedom by CILIP CEO Louis Coiffait-Gunn. The sessions and keynotes that followed encouraged us to reimagine the library and information sector for the future, and advocate for its place at the centre of our organisa- tions, our users’ experiences, and our society at large.
My biggest takeaway from the morning was that ours is an inherently trusted profession. This trust gives us a power- ful social capital that can be leveraged to situate libraries at the forefront of positive change in their community. With a new government incoming, there was a renewed sense of change
September 2024
Daniel Gorman, English PEN, opening keynote speaker at this year’s CILIP Conference.
and optimism for our profession, if only we would harness the opportunity before us.
Accordingly, the opening keynote by Janet Peden explored the physical and cultural transformation Ulster University Library has recently undergone. The new library building is oriented around col- laborative, active learning and the library service has visibly realigned itself with the institution’s wider strategy, restating its position as an active partner to the Uni- versity in achieving its teaching, learning and research objectives.
Next, ‘The Entrepreneurial Leader’
was a refreshing session that explored how library and information services may benefit from emulating the world of business. Using the example of LEGO’s transformation from the brink of bank- ruptcy in the 1990s to a hugely profitable business today, libraries can succeed by retaining an understanding of our core offering (our LEGO ‘brick’) and by build- ing our services and collections around it. I was impressed by the enterprising spirit of the speakers, who are driving engage- ment with services, spaces and collections through innovative practices, like offering free tickets to households in postcodes that currently produce no visitors, taking the big-picture view that this initial contact may convert underrepresented communities into committed users, a far
more valuable asset in the long-term than the price of a single admission. After an interesting workshop on CILIP’s Professional Registration pathway, the conference culminated in a panel discus- sion on Inclusive Collections, exploring the role of librarians in decolonising the collection. In a full circle moment, the panel echoed Daniel Gorman’s point about the singular actions librarians can take to make a positive change. “Decolo- nising is about adding to collections, not taking away from them” struck a chord with me, as it showed me that by includ- ing more voices and resources in our collections, we can remedy stereotypes and provide a truer picture of all cultures across the world, while improving our collection and ensuring it meets the needs of our community.
Once again, I am incredibly grateful to CILIP North East for the opportunity to participate in this year’s CILIP Confer- ence. I’ve had such a fantastic experience connecting with others and hearing diverse views on the biggest innovations and challenges impacting the sector. I’ve come away from this year’s conference feeling inspired and energised about my profession, my own development and the possibilities that are open to us when we connect with one another. I highly recom- mend it to anyone who has the opportunity to attend. IP
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