Oliver jumps into CILIPConf 2022

Attending my very first CILIP Conference not only as a librarian but also as Chair of CDEG was an overwhelmingly positive and constructive experience.

This was one of the very first times I had seen another librarian let alone conversed with them on issues in the sector.

My eternal gratitude goes to Trista, Bertha and John for helping me represent CDEG during the conference. It was great to sit in our little booth and speak to those walking by. I met many interesting people and gleaned many useful pieces of information. It was also wonderful to be situated next to the Disability and LGBTQ+ booth with yet more CDEG representation in the form of Carol, who was also a marvelous help. It was also great to see our bursary recipients enjoying their time at the conference; hopefully we can provide similar opportunities in the future.

Highlights of the conference for me include the keynote speech by Sayf Al-Ashqar, Secretary-General of Libraries, University of Mosul, Iraq. The story of how he helped build up a library that had been targeted by terrorists because of the knowledge and therefore power it held was awe inspiring and reinforced how pivotal libraries are to communities all over the world. The discussion on Intellectual Freedom in Libraries was riveting and no doubt an issue in which CDEG will have a hand in the future. Learning about Decolonisation (a topic to which I am new) was incredibly interesting and also something in which CDEG should become involved. No doubt the main highlight of the conference for me was the Allyship in Action workshop, partly helmed by our own John Vincent, in which the topic of being a good ally to marginalised groups was discussed. A lot of great ideas and discussion points were made and it gave a lot of thought both for me personally and for CDEG going forward.

Krystal Vittles said in her keynote speech that “no librarian is an island”, and after years of being the only librarian in the school it was lovely to feel part of a wider library community. I believe for CDEG this can be the start of something much bigger, where relationships and ideas have been formed that may later grow into bigger things. Watch this space.

All the best,

Oliver