Ned Potter, LIFE-SHARE Project Officer, University of Leeds Library
Over the past year or so I've learned that if you want something to happen, social media allows you to make it happen yourself; you don't have to wait for anyone else to do it. As a New Professional that's very liberating and if you've joined the profession in the last few years, have a look at the LIS New Professionals Network and connect with others who are engaged in the same way you are.
I am collaborating with Laura Woods to bring to the attention of the wider community the problem of the Echo Chamber in libraries. This phenomenon describes how we in the information profession have a tendency to bounce great ideas off one another - about how great libraries are, about marketing, and about advocacy - but we only talk to each other about them.
We're constantly preaching to the converted, inside an echo-chamber. We need to make sure our ideas are heard by those outside our own sphere - in particular those who are currently indifferent towards libraries but who would find them valuable if only they knew what we actually DO these days. It’s particularly galling when libraries are misrepresented in the media but often our ripostes only reach ourselves – they stay within the Echo Chamber.
We can all campaign for libraries, both as part of a collective movement and individually - each time someone questions the value of libraries, take the opportunity to try and convince them of their worth. If they still don't have any use for their local library then that's fine, we can't please everyone - the important thing is they can make an informed decision, because media and public perception of the profession is struggling to catch up with the 21st Century reality. Essentially we are all library advocates whether we like it or not - the only issue is how well we seize the opportunity...
Follow Ned - thewikiman - on his Blog and .
October 2010
Emma Illingworth,
Assistant Information Adviser (School of Environment and Technology), Aldrich Library, University of Brighton
I consider my professional role in 2 ways: in the workplace, and as a CILIP member in the wider information community. As a new professional I’m keen to get the message out there about how we can bring unique skills, knowledge and ideas into the workplace.
In my varied role at the University of Brighton, one of the most important aspects is making sure people have a good experience of the library: whether attending a workshop, at the enquiry desk or in answer to an email and they provide an opportunity to demonstrate the value of us as information professionals and what we as a library service can do.
Now is a challenging, but exciting time for the profession - we’ve got the opportunity to shape the future of CILIP by getting involved with the ‘Defining our Professional Future’ project. New professionals’ voices should be heard in this important development. By putting forward our viewpoints on the challenges faced by the profession and sharing our unique perspectives on how the profession should develop, we can begin to transform the profession in ways that are relevant and important.
There are plenty of opportunities for us to advocate for our profession and it’s up to us to make the most of them in the various interactions, meetings and exchanges, whether virtual or real life, whether in the workplace or in the wider information community, and beyond. The Campaigning Toolkit provides a sound grounding for those that want to develop their advocacy skills for a specific campaign as well for the continuous promotion of us as information professionals and the value we bring to our organisations and communities.
Emma's blog and account.
June 2010
Emma Harrison, Asst. Librarian, University of Glamorgan
After a career break doing something completely different, I moved to Wales to start a new life in the Welsh Valleys. I quickly found a professional post in an academic library, despite having never worked in Higher Education before (my previous library experience had mainly been in school libraries). I knew I had a very steep learning curve ahead, so I immediately reactivated my CILIP membership. I also joined the committee for the Wales division of the Career Development Group (CDG) to help me get up to speed as fast as possible. CILIP & CDG have also helped me in a way I would never have expected.
My employer implemented a job evaluation scheme, and I found myself needing to demonstrate my value as a library and information professional.
A CDG colleague told me about the Campaigning Toolkit. I had heard of it before, but naively thought it was only for those conducting large scale, media campaigns. On reading through the Toolkit, I found that it wasn’t all relevant for my small campaign. However, it contains extensive guidance about making an action plan, developing a network of supporters, influencing key decision makers, defining your key message (CILIP also sent me an invaluable list of words and phrases to use and avoid), etc.
The Toolkit turned out to be my lifeline, and the vital component in helping me, and others on my grade, prepare a strong and ultimately successful argument to promote our professional status. I highly recommend it to anyone having to partake in professional advocacy, at whatever level. January 2010
Helen Dahlke, Reader Development Librarian
When I was studying for my Masters in Librarianship I wrote my dissertation on the importance of advocacy and I believe that promoting the value of librarians and libraries can only be a good thing.
I started work as a Reader Development Librarian and used the CILIP Chartership structure to help me continue my professional development. In 2007 I was pleased to be named one of the Top Ten New Librarians:
‘The difference that I can make to somebody’s life by answering an enquiry may seem small to some but when you think of how many enquiries public library staff answer daily that difference is significant. Working in public libraries enables me to make a difference and use my skills to help people. I can be creative, I can use my IT skills, I can use my love of reading, and every enquiry is a new opportunity and a new challenge’.
I have spoken at CILIP events, staff training in a University, at a Council prize giving day and will be speaking at the Umbrella conference. I’ve also recently joined the regional committee of the Career Development Group as newsletter editor, which has already led to more opportunities.
Something that might not seem like much, like starting Chartership, can lead to many other opportunities. I would recommend volunteering for things and advocating the value of your professional skills in your organisation. It is also worth making the effort to be active within CILIP. You never know what might happen!
June 2009
Lisa Sutlief , Information Officer
Having enjoyed temping at a childcare training company for two weeks, and having recognised how much I could contribute as a full employee, I made a case to the company directors to hire me permanently.
They knew virtually nothing about the information profession and were surprised and encouraged by my skills. I showed them how I could add value to the business, contribute to innovation, save the time of other skilled personnel and how I could make various procedures and practices more efficient.
It worked! I’m now the company’s information officer, working hard to deliver the promises I’ve made and getting some real results. More importantly I know I am a valued member of the team. Six months later my bosses know a lot more about our profession and are supporting me in my Chartership efforts. What progress! And all because I decided to get vocal about my skills.
October 2008
Ayub Khan , Head of Libraries (Strategy)
Working as a professional librarian in Local Government, my key roles include setting standards and service quality, service design, commissioning services, and strategic collection management.
In a rapidly changing world, I constantly need to demonstrate the return on investment (ROI) for the Council in employing me.
Advocacy is essential within my job, conveying the vital role of libraries to a range of stakeholders in a variety of settings. I also advise the Council on matters such as ethics and legal compliance for topics such as censorship, copyright, statutory public library obligation, etc. In short I head a multi million pound ‘business’ managing staff, stock, spaces and services.
I recently demonstrated to the County Council the skills of Warwickshire’s librarians in resource discovery techniques, information literacy, and expertise in Reading and Learning. This helped to secure the position of libraries as lead for the authority during the National Year of Reading. The result was extra staffing and funding to take forward our strategy for October 2008
Nikki Heath, School Librarian
SLA School Librarian of the Year 2008
At Werneth School I am lucky to be fully appreciated by staff and students alike. Letting staff know exactly how the librarian can make their lives easier, and what resources will improve the teaching and learning in their classrooms is central to my role, as is the promotion of reading for pleasure.
The following initiatives have led to the school understanding the central role that the library plays in these key areas. They are by no means exhaustive:
1. Asking annually for curriculum changes so that the library can be properly resourced
2. Working closely with the literacy co-ordinator and Stockport Schools’ Library Service to provide literacy boxes in every classroom
3. Introducing regular whole school challenges highlighting the importance of information literacy through the school
4. Becoming involved in local Book Awards and Debating Days
5. Asking Rave Readers to champion the Booked Up books and run their own reading groups
6. Working with other departments to ensure they are aware of the skills the students have been taught during their lessons with me, and making sure that I can re-enforce skills taught by them (years 7,8 and 9 once fortnightly)
7. Introducing the Reading Champions scheme with staff and students
8. Working with the literacy co-ordinator to devise unusual and inventive ways to promote reading for pleasure
October 2008
Shelagh Levett, Service Director:
Information, Culture and Community Learning
In my role as Service Director I am responsible for the strategic management of arts, libraries, the museum service and adult learning. I am a member of the senior management team of my authority and this is vital to advocating for the role of my services.
My background in professional librarianship gives me the ability to see the bigger picture. We have to be able to answer questions on anything and everything and this ability to investigate and evaluate breaks down silos that no other profession can. We have transferrable skills that should enable us to get to the top of any organisation that we work in.
By advocating within my own authority, the library service is seen as pivotal to providing a customer first service. By actively seeking out partnerships and demonstrating the value that libraries can bring, our latest new library will include a neighbourhood housing office, Children’s Centre, learning centre, the Police and local volunteer groups all based there. One of our Council partners nominated the library service as Team of the Year in the recent staff awards. You can’t get higher praise than that!
October 2008
Ronan O’Beirne , Assistant Director, Learning Development
My role leading e-learning developments at a large further education college is underpinned by my professional librarianship qualification and by my experience of working across sectors in a range of libraries. When confronted with issues such as access to technology, resource discovery and copyright, my background knowledge enables me to instinctively understand the wider context and to offer solutions. In dealing with the complex management and performance information that supports many key decisions again it is the fundamental skills of information management that come to the fore.
At management level I find the library professionals that work alongside me to be excellent project managers, well organised and typically up-to-speed with developments in their areas of expertise and knowledge.
Frontline library staff have an inherent understanding of the principles of customer service, usually an extension of their enquiry handling skills. Their sense of empathy with the student, who is often seeking appropriate information, is significant and can be highly supportive.
Increasingly, these staff are developing their skills and knowledge to operate in a technology rich environment where they seem at ease, skillful and confident.
October 2008
Nigel Morgan , Subject Librarian, Information Services
Working as a subject librarian at Cardiff University has certainly allowed me to demonstrate my professional skills. Teaching, collection building, liaison with academic schools, managing projects - the role has demanded a varied portfolio of skills.
When I arrived in Cardiff, I had been used to running small informal skills sessions for students. However, I now had to deliver to huge cohorts and lead formal sessions in lecture theatres. With support from colleagues, I designed and developed fully embedded information literacy programmes in biosciences courses. Feedback from students and lecturers was excellent. Getting results builds confidence and spurs you on to further goals.
Now, success within my institution has taken me further afield. I have presented our innovations at major international conferences and have a global network of contacts. I feel I am helping professionals overseas to support their institutions and customers.
To top it all, in 2008 I was named Information Literacy Practitioner of the Year by CILIP’s CSG Information Literacy Group.
When I reflect on these achievements, I realise there’s no magic formula - it’s been a case of using some imagination, then knuckling down and simply working to the very best of my ability.
October 2008
Sue Wilkinson MBE (For services to Reading and Literacy)
Prison Librarian
My experience in reader development has really been the key skill I have used to create a successful library at HMP Birmingham. I was lucky enough to be able to design a new library in 2002, and was determined to make it into a place that the prisoners would value and respect. The library is totally reader centred, and has become an oasis of calm in the centre of a busy prison. It is a place where prisoners can come for relaxation, information and inspiration.
The library is also a neutral space- it is a public library within the prison, and as such, brings the outside in. Being able to take part in national library initiatives helps prisoners’ self-esteem and makes them feel less cut off from the world. We also help prisoners to maintain family links by helping them to share books and reading with their children on visits.
Prisoners have immense information needs, but are cut off from most sources of information. The librarian’s skills enable them to locate, retrieve, understand and communicate appropriate information.
I believe that librarians can make a real difference to the lives of prisoners, and to the life of the prison community.
October 2008
Ciara Eastell , Head of Libraries
As a Head of Libraries, I recognise the value of showing how libraries enrich and improve peoples’ lives. Decision makers within local authorities and amongst key partners often have little knowledge of the range and variety of libraries’ work with people of all ages and backgrounds. So an important part of my role is to uncover, showcase and celebrate all the ways in which books, reading and libraries make a difference to the quality of life within local communities. That involves:
• Working alongside colleagues from Cultural Services to join up our advocacy work to make a more powerful voice together
• Encouraging library staff to let me know about the seemingly small and insignificant stories they experience at the frontline so that I can use those stories as advocacy ‘ammunition’
• Using the tools and resources created by a range of national bodies (e.g. MLA, the Reading Agency, etc) to align our impact with key government agendas
• Being receptive to new opportunities and possibilities which provide scope for innovation, creativity and exploration around key service priorities.
As a new Head of Libraries, I’m just at the start of my advocacy journey in Devon. With Local Area Agreements, Comprehensive Area Agreements and a realignment of the performance regime, I recognise that advocacy is likely to be an increasingly critical part of my role in future.
October 2008
Bruce Madge , Past President CILIP
I have been a health librarian and a member of CILIP for over 30 years. In 2004 I was awarded an Honorary FCLIP and have been a past Chair of Health Libraries Group and am currently President. I have worked in a number of different types of library from academia to the British Library and have even ventured outside libraries a couple of times.
Being a member of CILIP has helped my career in many different ways. I cannot imagine reaching the pinnacle of my chosen profession with out the help and support of my professional body. CILIP are the organisation who helped me to develop my international links through proposing me as their representative in health for IFLA. I can remember being inspired by a former employer who wanted to be a member of the Health Libraries Group committee – well I beat him to that and achieved much more! I value the guidance that CILIP provides and the many chances to network with other members of the profession through conferences and other CILIP events.
As Assistant Director – Patient and Public Involvement at the National Patient Safety Agency, I am my team dealt with patients who had been damaged by the health care profession. I had to listen and sympathise with people as well as information gather and produce materials on the web, all skills I had learnt as a professional librarian. Today I am Director of Marketing for a small medical scanning company which is again a role I use my skills learnt in libraries. I find and produce information for patients, I write for our website and I talk to people to find out their needs – surely a role that any reference librarian could fulfil?
I would never consider leaving CILIP as it has helped me in so many ways throughout my career and it will continue to help me into my next role whatever that might be!
October 2008