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Professional Registration gave me more knowledge about libraries and higher education and more confidence in my current role.
Personal and professional development One of the big positives of Certification was getting to visit other libraries and learn how varied library roles are. This was a pleasant surprise and confirmed my choice of a career in libraries. I also had the chance to push myself and take on new challenges at ARU that I might not otherwise have experienced. Towards the end I got overwhelmed with all the different advice online about how to complete various parts of the portfolio. Apparently this is quite common. My mentor was invaluable in getting me through this mental block right at the end, as I was pulling everything together. I also found pitching the tone of my reflective writing quite tricky and putting in the right level of detail and emotion. I’ve found a few techniques that help, for example, keeping a private longhand notebook for getting the emotion out before writ- ing up a neat version. One of the most useful aspects of Certification was learn- ing from more experienced colleagues and from profession- als in other organisations. Everyone was very generous with their knowledge and time.
Professional Registration gave me more knowledge about libraries and higher education and more confidence in my 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.
Start your own journey One of my first tips for people going through Professional Registration is to commit to giving yourself time do any back- ground reading you need and write up your experiences as you go. This will take some of the pressure off at the end when you come to pull your portfolio together. Talk to colleagues about your Professional Registration and make the most of any advice and opportunities they offer. One of my most re- warding experiences grew out of a casual conversation in the office. When you choose what to focus on in the PKSB, find a balance between areas that fit within your current role and areas you’d like to gain experience of. Stay realistic but also push yourself and take some risks: this might be your chance to experience something new. I would definitely recommend Professional Registration to others. I found it such a rewarding experience. It’s a chance to really dig into your role, your organisation and your sec- tor and develop a deeper understanding of all three. You get to push yourself to take on new challenges and find out new things, both about libraries and yourself. Find out how Professional Registration with CILIP could
help you get more out of your career – visit
www.cilip.org.uk/ professionalregistration.
Summer 2025
INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL 53
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