CILIP is excited to announce a new project to prepare the library, information and knowledge workforce for the opportunities afforded by new technologies including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics and Process Automation. These are the technologies which are collectively shaping the ‘4th Industrial Revolution’.

Our aim is to undertake a landmark piece of research and deliver recommendations that will facilitate the transformation of the library and information profession into a ‘future-ready’ workforce over the next 5 years through CILIP’s Workforce Strategy.

In order to prepare the current and future workforce with the skills and competencies they need to empower information users, we need to be able to answer questions around these new technologies and their potential impact on the workforce and end users. How are machine learning, AI, robotics and process automation likely to change the roles and functions of the library, information and knowledge workforce across sectors over the next decade? Our aim is to create a report that may help answer questions like these with recommendations and issues to consider to help guide CILIP and the information and knowledge workforce.

We are currently bringing together a group of industry experts from the fields of technology, education and professional ethics to contribute thought-leadership, insight and expertise to this work.

To ensure that the report is grounded in the experience of members and informed by current applications of technology in the ‘here and now’, we are asking for responses from CILIP member networks plus information about current use cases.

Are you, or any services you know of, currently using or working towards implementing any ‘new; and emerging technologies - such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics and Process Automation - then please tell us more. We would love to hear from you. Share your case study using the form linked below:

We have finished collecting responses and thank those who have submitted them

The final report will be overseen by an Editorial Group, chaired by CILIP CEO Nick Poole, and will be published in the Spring of 2021. The overall project is being Chaired by Sue Lacey Bryant, National Lead for NHS Knowledge and Library Services at our partner organisation, Health Education England (HEE).