The Policy Team faciltates the development of professional policy and related advocacy activities within CILIP. In so doing they work closely with members, especially the Special Interest Groups and Branches, drawing on their expertise and knowledge to develop CILIP policy and promote its implementation.
Specialist Task & Finish Groups are the main vehicle for developing policy, recent examples include:
- Privacy Task & Finish Group - developing guidelines on user privacy
- Manifesto Task & Finish Group - developing a CILIP manifesto for the 2010 general election
The Policy Team manages the work of the Policy Forum and regularly reports into Council. The Unit produces an annual Advocacy Framework, setting out policy and advocacy priorities for the year, and co-ordinates advocacy across Ridgmount Street staff and the broader membership.
Advocacy is a priority area within the Council’s current Corporate Plan and there is an emphasis on the need to achieve a greater visibility for CILIP in this area and demonstrate the impact of its policy and advocacy activities. The Unit also supports and facilitates CILIP’s work on professional ethics and equalities, and produces the member only LIS in Politics blog.
Most areas of professional policy and advocacy work fall within the devolved functions of the UK Nations. Therefore CILIP in Scotland, CILIP Cymru/Wales and CILIP in Ireland undertake their own policy and advocacy activities within the individual contexts of those nations. Exceptions to this include areas such as intellectual property or data protection which are UK wide and therefore dealt with mainly through the Policy & Advocacy Unit.
The department is also the focus for CILIP’s international activity.
To discuss any aspects of CILIP’s policy and advocacy work please contact Guy Daines, Head of Policy.