INSIGHT
‘‘ President’s view
The power of our profession I
N this, my penultimate column for Information Professional, I have been reflecting on the benefits that being a member of
CILIP has brought to me over the past 25 years.
First and foremost, CILIP membership enabled my entire career. I was in the first cohort for Accreditation and went on to Charter. This opened so many doors and the rest is history. I have always sought to champion all libraries and the benefits they bring to society. CILIP membership offered validation and enabled recognition for the profession that I love.
Through Facet Publishing and Information Professional, CILIP offers professional stimulation and the ability to see how the entire library network fits together. This leads to an increased awareness of the potential for long term partnerships across the sector which can unleash the potential of the library network to contribute to society (and, in particular, to focus on the aims and objectives of the government of the day)
Delivering
In the past year, CILIP has honed its advocacy response on a national scale, working with Devo Inflect to polish its strategy. As a result, we are shining an increased spotlight on how libraries are already delivering and how, with a cohesive national strategy, they could be an even greater force in communities.
Our work on Green Libraries, with the conference coming up, is one example of how we can be strong influencers, while the second Rewired tech conference on 1 November, points to the clear role that libraries can
14 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
play in demystifying technology, as it gathers both pace and momentum, to the general population.
In my time in libraries, CILIP has developed a clear progression plan for those working in our profession. CILIP works with library schools to ensure that university courses are developing the skills that we need for the future and at the same time offers a Level 3 apprenticeship programme for those unable to pursue that route. Shortly, CILIP will be launching a Level 7 Leadership Apprenticeship which is eagerly awaited.
Recognition
From apprenticeship through Accreditation and then to Chartership (still the benchmark in our profession) and finally Fellowship, anyone coming into the profession can map their career with confidence. The Welcome to Libraries (
www.cilip.org. uk/inductionpack) booklet that I funded while at the Arts Council underlines that. For me this is the game changer: the recognition by our professional organisation that all who work in libraries have value while offering the opportunity for them to progress their career in a professional manner. CILIP’s training and CPD page is comprehensive and wide ranging and the PKSB fosters a reflective practice which is hugely beneficial, not only to the individual, but also to the entire profession. CILIP provides training events, online courses and webinars to support everyone in attaining their goals.
CILIP also exists to support those in the profession that have fallen upon hard times through the CILIP Benevolent Fund (
www.cilip.org.uk/ benevolent) and can offer financial support to those who find cost a
Sue Williamson is CILIP President. barrier to membership.
CILIP is the only organisation that works across all areas of librarianship and is open to all staff at all levels. This enables the best climate for cross sectoral partnership working and our K&IM SIG points to the wisdom of harnessing that organisational knowledge and practice to drive innovation and creative thinking around the skills of the library staffer.
Opportunity
Last year’s CILIP 125 programme ensured that all members could have the opportunity to have their voices heard. Building on this, a big strand of work this year has been about bringing our member networks, with their focus on specific areas in the sector, more closely together and Members Fest was aimed at celebrating new opportunities and supporting and driving new relationships.
Our professional organisation depends on you, its members and it exists to amplify your voice. That voice becomes more powerful as CILIP gains more members. Just imagine, if each and every one of you encouraged one extra person to join, how effective that voice could be. With this in mind, I commend membership to you. IP
October-November 2024
CILIP is the only organisation that works across all areas of librarianship and is open to all staff at all levels.
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