CILIP, the library and information association, has announced the launch of a two-year, Arts Council England funded project to promote relevant, accessible and valuable international collaboration for public libraries in England.

The project draws on the Arts Council England’s existing programmes promoting International Development, with a focus on the areas of “exchange, partnership and growth”. The project will provide a platform to promote and celebrate successful international projects by establishing a Working Internationally for Libraries conference, grant programme and through parliamentary engagement activities and advocacy.

Rabeea Arif, Project Manager for Working Internationally, said; “I am delighted to announce the launch of the CILIP-led Working Internationally project that aims to bridge gaps and foster cultural relations through the work of public libraries, while celebrating innovation and sharing knowledge and skills. The ongoing public sector austerity in England means that many local libraries are struggling to make the significant investment of time and effort required to explore and establish international links and to develop these into full-scale partnership projects. The Working Internationally project will enable these libraries to access the myriad opportunities that international collaboration can bring.”

CILIP CEO Nick Poole added, “The Working Internationally project is a huge opportunity for public libraries in England to benefit from building relationships and sharing best practices with their counterparts outside the UK. Our fantastic, diverse and creative public library sector has so much to offer our colleagues around the world and we have so much to learn from one another. Thanks to the support of the Arts Council England, this project will provide grant-funding for libraries and librarians to develop international collaboration”.

About the Working Internationally project

England is known worldwide for the diversity and creativity of its public libraries and library collections. Having been among the first nations to establish a free, universally-accessible public library service, it has long been regarded as a leader in library innovation.

CILIP, in its role as the second-largest library association in the world aims to ensure that a strong international dimension is present in the aims and ambitions of libraries in England.

‘Working Internationally for Libraries’ is an ACE-funded 2-year programme to promote international working for public libraries in England. The programme will run from May 2019 to December 2020 in partnership with British Library and British Council to deliver innovative projects which promote knowledge-exchange and partnership between UK and International Library & Information sector professionals.

Programme objectives:

• To create a sense of focus, momentum and energy around the opportunities of international working for libraries in England.
• To inspire and equip libraries to deliver successful international projects, and assure them that international collaboration is accessible and valuable, even where budgets are much stretched
• To establish libraries as a vibrant and positive addition to the overall picture of international collaboration and diplomacy.
• To promote the role of UK as an important player in international library and information communities.