There is information here on CILIP's work on diversity and equality issues. There are also links to pages that give practical information and advice on diversity issues in libraries.
The following Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement was approved by CILIP Council in April 2004:
CILIP Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement
Our vision is an informed society in which everyone has ready access to the knowledge, information and works of imagination appropriate to their needs, wants and aspirations. This is the distinctive contribution of library and information professionals to developing a society where:
- All groups are empowered
- Attitudes and prejudices that hinder the progress of individuals and groups are confronted and tackled
- Cultural, racial, and societal diversity is respected and celebrated
- Individuals and communities live together in mutual respect and tolerance
- Discrimination is challenged and tackled robustly
In affirming this vision CILIP will seek:
- To achieve recognisable excellence as an organisation that values and puts into practice equal opportunities and diversity
- To work towards establishing an LIS workforce that is representative of the diversity within UK society
- To facilitate an awareness and appreciation of the value and importance of diversity and equal opportunities to LIS work amongst our members and staff
- To collaborate with other interested parties in the encouragement and mainstreaming of best practice in service delivery so that the values of diversity and equal opportunities are embodied in the services provided by our members
- To tackle prejudice wherever it is found in the LIS domain
Equalities Audit
We recently conducted an 
equalities audit to understand where CILIP currently sits in regard to equality issues and to establish a baseline for future comparisons. The audit has the following elements:
- Statistical profile of the CILIP membership
- Statistical profile of staff
- Statistical profile of activists within CILIP governance
- Assessments of CILIP performance against the Equally Professional Metrics Monitoring Framework, the Equally Professional Terms of Reference and our own Equal Opportunities & Diversity Statement.
Headline conclusions
- CILIP membership is significantly weighted towards the older end of the age spectrum; this is not the case for staff and less so for activists
- We have proportionately fewer disabled members than the national proportion of the UK population
- We have significantly too few men in CILIP
- CILIP has still much to do if its membership is to reflect the UK society in its ethnic make-up
- A high percentage (35%) of CILIP activists, compared to the national figure, state they have no faith or religious affiliation
The report sets out both strategic and operational recommendations.
Equal Opportunities and Diversity Panel
The Equal Opportunities and Diversity Panel oversees CILIP's work on diversity and equality issues. Ayub Khan currently chairs the Panel.
The Panel is currently working on actions as a result of the recent equalities audit of CILIP.
More about the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Panel
Find out more information about Encompass - the positive action trainee scheme.