If you are joining CILIP as a personal member for the first time you will be eligible to join in one of two categories – Associate or Affiliate.

You should join as an Associate if:

  • You have a library or information qualification accredited by CILIP.
  • Or you have another academic qualification coupled with a period of work experience at a professional level. If you aren’t sure what constitutes work at professional level then read through our affiliated member checklist. If your role / experience includes activities that fall mainly on the right-hand side of the page you should join as an Associate.


You should join as an Affiliate if:

You don’t have a CILIP accredited qualification or any other qualification at degree level, and your current role / work experience constitutes work at a para-professional level. Typically this includes work undertaken by library or information assistants.

Please read through our affiliated member checklist. If your role / experience includes activities that fall mainly on the left-hand side of the page you should join as an Affiliate. You will need to print off a copy of this checklist, sign it and return it to us with your application form.

Updated: 04 October 2006
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