Shirley Yearwood-Jackman has now completed her term as the chair of the CILIP BAME Network. We would like to thank Shirley for her outstanding contribution to the Network over the past three years. She has been instrumental in establishing the Network to champion and advocate for ethnically diverse professionals within the library, knowledge and information sector. Under Shirley’s leadership, the Network has provided a platform to support the development, advancement and well-being of ethnically diverse people working in the sector. Shirley has made a significant contribution to discourse, strategic planning and CILIP policies concerning equality, diversity and inclusion, particularly where these relate to the experience of people from ethnically diverse backgrounds. An incisive and motivational speaker, Shirley has also used her time as Chair to champion the crucial role of allies in anti-racist work individually and institutionally.

Shirley is stepping down to focus on her role as a CILIP Trustee. She will continue to be actively involved in helping to deliver CILIP’s wider EDI programme, supporting the Board in our mission to become a wholly inclusive organisation.

Speaking about her time as chair, Shirley commented; “It has been my sincere honour to have established and led the CILIP BAME Network and a delight to see it become a core part of CILIP. The Network has demonstrated how ethnically diverse professionals can be supported and given a voice in the sector. Furthermore, through our advocacy, we have helped all professionals in the sector to reflect on the work we need to do in libraries to eliminate racial inequality. However, there is still much work to be done by the Network and therefore my departure signals the start of a new chapter. A dedicated network has been left for the community to shape so that it continues to meet their needs.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all persons who have served with me on the CILIP BAME Network Committee, without your support none of this would have been possible. Thank you to the membership of the Network for all of your support and to all of those persons in and outside of the sector who have been championing this work. A big thank you to Deputy Librarian, Alastair Flett and others at Libraries, Museums and Galleries, University of Liverpool who have supported all of my external EDI work for the sector. Finally, last but certainly not least, special thanks go to Yvonne Morris and Natalie Jones for their tireless commitment to the development of the Network as well as the wider CILIP team who have supported the committee and I in countless ways.”

The Network was the first of our three diversity networks to be established. CILIP will work with the committee members to appoint a new Chair to take forward this important network with a new name and objectives. Together we will continue to collaborate to meet CILIP’s Changing Lives commitments and deliver the new five year We Are CILIP strategy which has social justice and equity at its core.