CEO ‘‘ A
S I pass my first year at CILIP I see that society clearly needs our profession more than ever, even if it doesn’t always realise it. Whether it’s trustworthy information to inform better decisions; calm and inclusive
spaces that support everyone’s wellbeing; or equipping people with the literacies and critical thinking skills they need to thrive in the modern world – these and the many other services that this amazing profession provides empower people in truly unique ways. We change lives for the better. However, too often our contributions don’t seem to be fully recognised. We’re not in all the right conversations and even when we are we don’t always seem to have the stats, stories and confidence to influence those making decisions – whether they’re politicians, funders, senior colleagues, partners or others. Why is it that library, knowledge and information services are too often seen as a ‘soft’ cut or optional, rather than essential?
Yes, the context is tough with low economic growth, productivity, and employer skills investment. This translates to funding pressures for most of us. Plus, it can feel like there’s ever-quicker change and growing competition, especially from technology.
But this also creates huge opportunities for the whole profession. To raise its profile and visibly increase its impact. That’s the core purpose of CILIP’s new five-year strategy, to increase our positive impact on the whole profession, in order to help you increase your positive impact on your users and wider society – and for you to be better recognised and rewarded for it. This all builds nicely on We are CILIP, the current five- year strategy to the end of the year, much of which still holds true and is well underway. Much of that important work will continue into the new strategy, including improving CILIP’s digital services to members and volunteers, as well as our website and finance systems. The CILIP Board and senior staff have been working hard with me on the emerging new strategy for months, and we are now sharing initial thinking with members for discussion and ongoing refinement, including through a roadshow with our member networks.
The new strategy will outline what CILIP will achieve for the profession over the next five years, as well as why and how. It will help us to prioritise and allocate resources, setting our direction up to 2030 underpinned by a detailed budget and operational plan.
It will future-proof CILIP and the profession, ensuring we grow, evolve and stay relevant to best meet changing societal needs. Our new strategy will outline how we will help maintain
3 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
Louis Coiffait-Gunn, CEO of CILIP, at Westminster with Libraries Champion Bobby Seagull.
Summer 2025
CILIP exists to serve the profession and the strategy sets our priorities. So please do get involved in the strategy consultation process, in particular the two Town Hall sessions on 20 and 29 May, and the open survey which runs to 11 July.
Louis Coiffait-Gunn Chief Executive
Louis.Coiffait-Gunn@
cilip.org.uk
the flow of talented people into and through the profession, helping you stay at the cutting edge of theory and practice, and to connect beyond your employer, sector, profession and country. And it will paint a big picture vision for the long-term future of the whole profession, including the vital partner organisations CILIP works with. This also includes making use of tech as just another tool, as we have time and time before. And viewing the tech sector as just another set of powerful potential partners, providing we stay true to our enduring ethical foundations in our engagement with them as we would with any other partners. But we don’t have all the answers yet, we need your ideas, wisdom and advice. To hear what you’re excited about, worried about, or frustrated with. CILIP exists to serve the profession and the strategy sets our priorities. So please do get involved in the strategy consultation process, in particular the two Town Hall sessions on 20 and 29 May, and the open survey which runs to 11 July. These are all public, so we can hear from current, former, and future members. As well as our partners across the sector. I really hope you’ll sign up to the events, complete the short survey, and encourage others to do both as well. This will shape CILIP’s new strategy to ensure that we speak for you, empower you, and deliver what you need in order to thrive in your career and continue growing your positive impact. We have a unique responsibility to champion the whole library, knowledge and information sector and everyone in it. Once the strategy consultation is complete the Board will approve the final version, which we’ll then share at the AGM in October, before it launches in January 2026.
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