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Through my Chartership, I actively sought opportunities to improve my teaching and presentation skills, develop stronger digital literacy, and gain more confidence in using tools.


current role. I helped with a big project to create a new special collection, which taught me about different aspects of collection management and was very satisfying to com- plete. I spent time learning about current issues in higher education, which gave me a deeper understanding of the challenges facing the sector and the part libraries can play in meeting those challenges. The process also taught me how little I know about libraries, which is what helped me decide to study librarianship at Ulster University.


Overcoming challenge My main challenge was managing changes in my role, which made it difficult to focus and choose the most relevant experi- ences for my portfolio. It was also my first time writing reflec- tively, and understanding the marking criteria took some time. I lost contact with my mentor towards the end, which was tricky, but I stayed on track by breaking the work into manageable tasks. Although it wasn’t always easy, the process helped me reflect on my development and gave me greater confidence in my skills and career progression. The most useful part was realising how far I had come since beginning my library career. Taking time to reflect helped me appreciate my progress and growth, which I had not fully rec- ognised before.


Through my Chartership, I actively sought opportunities to improve my teaching and presentation skills, develop stronger digital literacy, and gain more confidence in using tools such as reference management systems to support students and staff. I believe that completing my Chartership helped me secure my current secondment as an Assistant Librarian (Liaison) at Newcastle University, where I now frequently apply these skills in delivering information literacy sessions and support- ing a diverse range of student needs. Since finishing the process, I have become more proactive, contributing new ideas, taking on additional responsibilities,


and helping to shape our services. Reflecting on my journey has made me realise where my strengths lie and the areas I wish to continue developing. Above all, Professional Registration has given me the confi- dence to view myself as a library professional. It has inspired me to keep growing, with the long-term aspiration of securing a permanent librarian role in higher education.


Your Professional Registration My biggest tip is to start reflecting early and keeping notes on CPD and achievements as you go – it makes writing your portfolio much easier. If you have a mentor, make the most of their support. There’s a lot of assistance available on the CILIP website, but I personally found it rather difficult to navigate. If you can, it’s very helpful to become familiar with the resources early on – I never quite managed to figure it out myself! That’s why I’d recommend starting to use it early as another way to connect with others in the CILIP community for advice and support. I would recommend Chartership, but I do think it depends


on your role. Having worked in several different library positions, I found reflecting on certain roles much easier than others – some naturally provided more opportunities to meet the c riteria. So, I’d really encourage anyone thinking about Chartership to look into whether it’s the right time for them and if their current role gives them enough experience to reflect on. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it won’t be the right path for everyone – and that’s completely okay. But if the timing is right, it can be a really rewarding process that helps you recognise your skills, build confidence, and plan for your future career. CILIP’s Professional Registration includes Certification,


Chartership, and Fellowship, helping to ensure there is a level for everyone no matter what stage of your career you are at. To find out more visit www.cilip.org.uk/professionalregistration.


Rewired 2025


INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL DIGITAL 45


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