CONTENTS NEWS
5 The countdown begins As delegates head home from this year’s IFLA World Congress in Busan, CILIP and the UK picks up the baton for 2027 for a double celebration as WLIC comes to London in CILIP’s 150th year and IFLA’s 100th.
6 Cuts warning
Proposals that could see the loss of a specialist library professional as head of service have been criticised.
7 Libraries through the lens The latest instalment heads to London and the library at
SOAS.
8 An unknown future Librarian Donna Irving shares her experience of Norway’s Future Library – a mix of library, art and philosophy.
9 Co-creation success A project that saw young people working with library professionals to create services that meet their needs has been hailed a success.
10&11 Designing Libraries: A space for music Ayub Khan looks at what a £12m funding pledge for music in libraries means for design.
12&13 News feature: workforce development Sector leaders respond to a CILIP-backed strategy on workforce development in public libraries.
Yasir Haniff. Page 41
INTERVIEW 24 Archives and bots John Sheridan discusses how The National Archives is taking steps to work with AI bots, not against them.
27 Legal knowledge Mark Ford on how legal knowledge management can benefit from AI tools when there is more that reputa- tion at risk.
34 Intellectual Freedom Committee: Next steps New committee Chair Rónán O’Beirne looks at the work so far and what to expect in the coming months.
IN DEPTH
16 AI use under review Elena Macevičiutė and Thomas D. Wilson’s review of evidence on search and access to information in an AI world.
21 Cover Culture counts A look at why culture shouldn’t be overlooked when thinking about data and AI, with Marion Shaw.
32 Green Libraries Week A look back at last year’s Green Libraries Week to help you prepare for this year.
36 Banned books SLG Chair Carol Webb explains why the group is backing this year’s Banned Books week.
42 Question everything Andrew K. Shenton on what we can learn from zetetic principles of search.
44 Rewired 2026
Gary Horrocks looks ahead to this year’s Rewired Con- ference as he explores this year’s themes and topics.
COMMENT
52 Mediawatching Swap shop.
COMMUNITY 48 Obituaries Bob Usherwood.
49 What’s on Your Guide to CILIP events.
INSIGHT 14 Scripturient Faded glory.
30 HLG
International reflections. 38 SLG
Calls to back school libraries.
41 Disability Network Nominations open for the Lynne Mackie Accessibility Award.
46 K&IM Matters “Out of Office” lessons.
CILIP: established 2002.
Incorporated by Royal Charter 1898. Registered Charity 313014.
Member ship: enquiries to
membership@cilip.org.uk www.cilip.org.uk/membership
Download the App for Apple and Android devices at
www.cilip.org.uk/InfoProApp
Aug-Sept
www.cilip.org.uk/infopro
Published by CILIP c/o 27 Old Gloucester Street, Holborn, London, WC1N 3AX
Editor-in-Chief: Rob
Greenrob.green@
cilip.org.uk Senior Reporter: Rob Mackinlay
rob.mackinlay@
cilip.org.uk
Production/Design Editor: Richard Gibbons
richard.gibbons@
cilip.org.uk
Advertising Manager: Angela Krzyzanowska
angela.krzyzanowska@
cilip.org.uk
infopromag@cilip.org.uk; 020 4513 2831;
www.cilip.org.uk/infopro l Twitter/X @CILIPinfo © Information Professional 2026. All rights reserved. Other than as permitted by law, any part of this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means with the prior written permission of CILIP, or in accordance with the terms of a licence issued by an appropriate reproduction rights organisation. Opinions expressed in Information Professional are not necessarily those of CILIP or the editorial team.
Annual subscription, UK, £98; outside UK, £120 For subscriptions contact:
angela.krzyzanowska@
cilip.org.uk
Cover picture:Marion Shaw. Publication dates 2026
Publication date for the next issue of Information Professional are:
Oct-Nov: Published – 30 October 2026
Submit your news and feature proposals to the editor by emailing
rob.green@
cilip.org.uk.
www.cilip.org.uk/podcast Spotify at
https://tinyurl.com/InfoProPodSpotify or Apple at
https://tinyurl.com/InfoProPodApple
www.cilip.org.uk/empoweringimpact Tackling bots in the National Archives. Page 24 4 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL August-September 2026
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
