Social justice - isn't that political? An introduction to social justice and the work of The Network

Date & Time Thursday 10th February, 6pm-7pm

This session will briefly outline the history and development of The Network which started in 1999 and look at some of its current activities. The major part of the session will be a practical look at what part libraries can play in promoting social justice, with plenty of opportunity for discussion! 

• An introduction to the common terms – social justice, social inclusion, social cohesion
• Background – where this work has developed from & current position (including tying-in to CILIP’s “Changing Lives” strategy & ethics)
• What do we know about what works?
• What can libraries do? Practical examples
• An outline of some of the current work of The Network

This webinar will be recorded – if you are unable to attend but wish to receive the recording please sign up to the event.

Venue: Online via Microsoft Teams
Cost: free for CILIP members; £25 for non-members (exclusive of VAT)

Presenter: John Vincent

John Vincent has worked in the public sector since the 1960s, primarily for Hertfordshire, Lambeth and Enfield public library services. In 1997, he was invited to become part of the team that produced the UK’s first review of public libraries and social exclusion (from which The Network, which he now coordinates, originated).
 
John runs courses and lectures, writes, produces regular newsletters and ebulletins, and lobbies for greater awareness of the role that libraries, archives, museums, and the cultural & heritage sector play in contributing to social justice. He is particularly interested in supporting the work that libraries do with young people in care, with LGBTQ+ people, and with people seeking sanctuary and other ‘new arrivals’ to the UK. In 2014, John was given a CILIP CDEG Special Diversity Award, and, in September 2014, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of CILIP.
 
In September 2010, the book he co-wrote with John Pateman, Public libraries and social justice, was published by Ashgate (now Routledge); and, in January 2014, he published LGBT people and the UK cultural sector … (also by Ashgate, now Routledge). In 2018, John’s report to Arts Council England was published, Libraries welcome everyone: six stories of diversity and inclusion from libraries in England. In May 2020, City of Sanctuary published his guide, Libraries of Sanctuary resource pack; and, in 2020, he was by Facet Publishing to write the first in a new series looking at libraries and social justice. This first title will be Libraries and Sanctuary: supporting refugees and other new arrivals. 

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