IN DEPTH ‘‘
Sean McNamara, is Director of CILIP in Scotland.
Kirsten MacQuarrie, is Sector Development Officer for CILIPS.
It was my first CILIP conference and I came away being very moved and inspired and excited to go back to my role with fresh ideas and a renewed passion for what we do. – Delegate
CILIPS Conference brings the profession together
Sean McNamara and Kirsten MacQuarrie take us on a guided tour of this year’s CILIP in Scotland Annual Conference, which took place last month. Taking place in Dundee, the event attracted hundreds of delegates and here you can find out what made this year’s conference so special.
“TRUST, passion, and solidarity,” keynote speaker and award-winning audiobook narrator, actress Rosalyn Landor, said it all in summarising her impressions of our profession at CILIPS25: The CILIPS Annual Conference. Centred on the theme ‘Con- necting and Preserving Communities’, we welcomed 200+ delegates from all sectors across two days of thought-provoking sessions, inspiring networking opportunities and chances to catch up with fellow profes- sionals via best practice case studies. Gathering once again at the Dundee Apex Hotel – did you know that Dundee is within 90 minutes travel time for 90 per cent of the Scottish popula- tion? – delegates were welcomed by CILIPS 2025 President Dr David McMenemy. David, who led the development of the CILIPS Research Fund project REVEAL: Reinforcing Ethics and Values for Effective Advocacy in Libraries, and has also recently devel- oped a brand new postgraduate course in librarian- ship at the University of Glasgow, highlighted: “The importance of libraries, across sectors, as spaces where human beings can explore ideas and cultures, and understand how their communities have devel- oped and grown… Society needs more than ever the contribution of a strong and confident library pro- fession, at a time when adequate funding of libraries remains a significant issue.”
The conference this year included an inspiring range of keynotes and sessions offering insights into
40 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL
the contributions that you all make to your com- munities on a daily basis. We gather to learn about these contributions and reflect on them, but also, hopefully, to help reinvigorate us all for the mission ahead.
Our 2025 programme featured a wide range of content covering diverse sectors and topics. Day one included prison libraries, evidencing the social value of libraries, higher education and articulating impact, health libraries and online training, the pioneering Generative AI Skills in Schools project, Wikimedia in the post-truth age, and exploring the evidence base linking reading and wellbeing, amongst much more – not least, inspired by upcom- ing Facet title Feminist Librarianship, Taylor Swift and the joy of legal deposit!
Day two showcased global journeys in library lead- ership, alternative formats, tackling misinforma- tion, community walking as a means of connection, cutting-edge public library research published by Scottish Book Trust during the week of the confer- ence, legal resources for librarians, zine-making, reflections on changing sectors, and how libraries can celebrate Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month this June.
The keynotes that made up the programme were all well-received and gave the audience much to think about. On day one, we had two influential talks to open the day from CILIP CEO Louis Coiffait-Gunn and Scottish Library and Information Council CEO Alison Nolan. They highlighted how Libraries
Rewired 2025
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