CDG history since 1895
Library Assistants' Association
The originally called Library Assistants’ Association was born in London in 1895 out of the need to associate expressed by students at the Summer School organised by the Library Association (now CILIP).
Assistants from public libraries got together on 3rd July to discuss the idea, proposed at the meeting by Mr W W Fortune from Lewisham Public Library and seconded by Mr E H Caddie of Battersea Public Libraries.
Mr R A Peddie of the National Liberal Club, Gladstone Library, came out as chair of the new Association, which was open to “any assistant engaged in a library, public or private, in London or elsewhere”; they were mostly men, as women assistants were hardly known on those days.
Association's First Aim
The first aim of the Association - as expressed by its members - was to establish free evening classes to help library assistants prepare for the examinations of the Library Association.
“A collection of books bearing upon all phases of library history and administration and textbooks necessary for the education of a librarian” was also formed mainly via donations, as the extremely low salaries of library assistants at the time made purchasing of private books almost impossible.
Meetings
Monthly meetings, at which common issues were discussed, started to take place, with the first Annual Report of the Library Assistants’ Association presented to the AGM on 1st July 1896 concluding as follows: “By attending the meetings assistants are brought into contact with one another; ideas and experiences are exchanged, and that good fellowship established which cannot fail to be of influence for the good of the profession in general”.
Association of Assistant Librarians
By 1921 some members had gone up the career ladder and membership now included (and still does) “assistants ranking from Deputy Chief Librarians of the largest publish systems, to the youngest junior of the smallest systems” so, after much deliberation, a change was made in the name to Association of Assistant Librarians (AAL) to better reflect the new nature of the membership.
Library Association
After three years of arduous negotiations, amalgamation to the then Library Association (LA) came in September 1929 “from a realisation of the advantages which would accrue to each, and hence to the profession”, after a vote by the whole of the AAL membership - as it is best practice on a member-driven organisation.
As a result of the amalgamation, the Association of Assistant Librarians became a Section of the Library Association in return for capitation payments and voting rights for its members, with two representatives appointed to LA Council and others to its different committees.
However, “the young and enthusiastic AAL representatives became something of a thorn in the sides of the more senior members of the LA Council”, soon forming a ginger group in an effort “to get things done”.
This combative spirit being a constant on our history which remains so up until now, also helped the Association of Assistant Librarians to continue its activities despite six war years, the loss of some of its leaders in the conflict and most efforts being necessarily turned to the reconstruction efforts, when “almost a generation of assistants whom we could normally have expected to be absorbing our traditions in preparation for the time when they themselves would take over the management of the Association, have been away with little or no active contact with our affairs”.
Career Development Group
Over a century later - and with a second change of name in 1997 to Career Development Group to reflect yet more changes in the profession - our proactive spirit and commitment to the profession, as well as our original aims and objectives, remain unchanged.
We continue:
- supporting the learning and development needs of our members, specially those working towards CILIP’s Framework of Qualifications;
- encouraging and offering opportunities for continuous professional development via our regional committees; and
- providing a voice for members, specially the newest ones, encouraging debate and sharing of ideas for the advancement of the profession.
Are you with us?
Past President