CILIP | LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS "ESSENTIAL FOR KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY" : MPs welcome CILIP Members and guests to Commons

MPs welcome CILIP Members and guests to Commons

News 03/07/02

Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, praised the "skills and expertise of our information professionals" at a special reception held at the House of Commons today to celebrate excellence in the knowledge economy. Hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries under the Chairmanship of Linda Perham MP, the event was expected to attract nearly 50 MPs.

Sheila Corrall, President of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and its Chief Executive Bob McKee headed the list of some 40 leading CILIP Members who took the opportunity to meet the MPs and discuss with them the importance for the UK's economy of a highly qualified and trained library and information profession. Many MPs also invited their own guests, who received certificates commemorating the event.

"As MPs, we know that timely access to information is vital for our jobs," Mrs Hewitt said, adding that effectively managed information required people as well as technology. "As information increases, so do demands on library and information professionals," she continued. "CILIP has a duty under its Royal Charter to ensure that the profession is equipped to meet the information needs of business, science and technology, government and social agencies."

Endorsement of the work that library and information professionals do came from MPs across the political spectrum. Referring to the pioneering work of Andrew Carnegie, who realised that the "tremendous thirst for knowledge among working people should be harnessed for the good of the country's economy," Iain Luke MP added "In today's world, companies are buying into the knowledge economy."

Cheryl Gillan MP commented "Libraries in the workplace make a valuable contribution to the education of employers and employees alike," and called them a "hidden asset that should be celebrated for their importance in improving competitiveness and promoting success."

And Andrew George MP praised the library at the House of Commons itself, acknowledging that "MPs could not attempt to fulfil the expectations of their constituents" without it, and concluding that "effectively retrieved information is the meat and drink of politics." CILIP is most grateful to the All Party Group on Libraries for hosting the event, and allowing its Members to discuss with a large number of MPs the special role that CILIP plays in the knowledge economy - through its accreditation of library and information courses, its Chartership scheme and its continuing professional development programmes.

Contact:
Tim Owen, Head of External Relations.
Tel: 020 7255 0652.
Email: tim.owen@cilip.org.uk

Notes to Editors

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with around 23,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government departments and agencies, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.

CILIP's goals are to: position the profession at the heart of the information revolution; develop and enhance the role and skills of all its Members; present and champion those skills, together with new ones which will be acquired through continuing professional development; and ensure that individuals, enterprises and not for profit organisations have ready and timely access to the information they need.

Updated: 03 July 2006