Who we are and what we do
ILIG exists to unite CILIP members both in the UK and abroad who have a strong interest in international work. Its purpose is to foster good international relations within the profession; lessen professional isolation; encourage closer international understanding, and contribute to the development of library and information services overseas.
Information is everyone's right and ILIG especially supports those working in less-advantaged countries and institutions. In developing information-sharing and other activities within the international community, ILIG seeks to identify issues and provide information from which the Group, CILIP, and others can create policy.
ILIG aims to serve its members by
1. Raising awareness of international issues concerning the profession through a world-wide membership which provides cross-cultural links and thereby fosters greater understanding.
2. Acting as a specialist group, represented on CILIP's Policy Forum, thereby influencing and assisting CILIP in its formulation of International policy and activities.
3. Encouraging practical activity in the international sphere.
4. Fostering networking, linking, and general co-operation among those involved in international librarianship.
5. Continuously defining ILIG's role in relation to CILIP, its Branches and Groups and mutual relationships with other bodies e.g. the British Council.
6. Being a recognised resource and point of contact for CILIP in the international arena.
7. Raising the profile of ILIG among present and potential members by concentrating on appropriate activities, e.g. conferences and meetings.
8. Contributing to the development of the library and information services internationally, thus encouraging closer international understanding.
History
In March 1967 a meeting was held at the headquarters of the Library Association (LA) to look at forming a discussion research group on international and comparitive librarianship. A report of that meeting was compiled as Focus on International and Comparative Librarianship. The Library Association's Council approved the establishment of an International and Comparative Librarianship Group (ICLG) as from 1st January, 1968. The Group changed its name in 1991 to the International Group of the Library Association (IGLA) to promote further the international aspect of the Group's work. When the LA merged with the Institute of Information Scientists (IIS), in April 2002, the name of the group was changed to its current one: the International Library and Information Group (ILIG).
Updated: 05 December 2008