CILIP came together for its annual conference and this year’s event marked a special celebration – not just the 125th anniversary of CILIP’s Royal Charter, but also the announcement of the CILP 125 List. Rob Green looks at how the CILIP 125 List is signalling a bright future for the profession.

CILIP was awarded its Royal Charter in by Queen Victoria in 1898. It conferred on the then Library Association a formal recognition for the work its members had been doing. At that time the Library Association was already more than 20 years old, but royal patronage at the time was a big deal.

The Royal Charter is much more than a nice accolade bestowed from on high – it is a recognition of the values and ethics that in-formation professionals hold dear, and which drive the profession forward. For the last 125 years those values and ethical principles have been enshrined in the Royal Charter, forming a foundation for the work of CILIP and its members.

But as CILIP celebrates that moment in its history and looks back at how it has helped shape the profession as a source of trusted, valuable information – it also wanted to look forward and celebrate the future of the profession. The CILIP 125 List does exactly – a list of 125 of the brightest and most talented library, information and knowledge professionals at the start of their careers.

Each of the 125 people on the list is making a difference to their communities and users, whichever sector or job role they are working in. The value they bring to people’s lives through their dedication to the job and hard work (often made to look deceptively easy), can be difficult to measure. But there is no doubt that they are making the world a better place – creating a foundation for knowledge, innovation, creativity, understanding, collaboration… and yes, a love of reading!

Information professionals everywhere are contributing to society through their work, and it is good to know that, as new technology brings new challenges and opportunities, the profession is in safe hands.

CILIP President John Trevor-Allen spoke at the ceremony during conference, recognising the huge changes over the last 125 years. He said: “We’ve seen advances in science and technology and played our part in their research and development, and we’ve experienced societal change while working hard to combat a rise in disinformation.

,p>“And we’ve lived through more than our fair share of challenged economies, weathering a decline in funding whilst simultaneously fighting for an increase social justice: we offer spaces of sanctuary, warmth and safety to those who are displaced, challenged by the cost-of-living crisis, or who are simply seeking support to access vital information in a neutral, safe environment.

“And now we face more change and opportunity, as we navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape, challenges of increasing censorship attempts, more disinformation, and an increasingly urgent need to live and work in more sustainable ways.

“Throughout our 125 years, CILIP has supported, promoted, and sustained the libraries and knowledge management profession. And we will continue to do so as we look ahead to the next 125.”

With 125 people named on the list, it was not possible for everyone to attend the ceremony – but Beth Montague-Hellen and Imo-gen Loucas ably represented the recipients. Beth is Head of Library and Information Services at the Francis Crick Institute and she explained how she had discovered her love for libraries later in life, having already had one career as a genetics researcher. Beth said that while that was important work, it did not necessarily feel like it was directly helping people in the same way that librarianship can. Read an interview with Beth from earlier this year at https://tinyurl.com/5y6ytax2.

Imogen has a dual role for GLL’s libraries – working half the week as a librarian in Greenwich and the other half helping to run Bromley Central Library’s Start-Up Bromley business development project.

She said: “I might sound idealistic, but I truly believe that public libraries are the backbone of humanity. To me, a well-established and used library service is a sign of an enriched community, and I feel so privileged to play a part in that.

“For me, one of my biggest passions is easy access to information, essentially what a public library encapsulates.”

Imogen’s dual role also highlights how libraries and information services, and the people who work in them adapt to help users in different ways, a theme that is evident in each of the recipients of the CILIP 125 medals.

Imogen talked about the value of building communities and the role public libraries have in that, but also recognised the im-portance of a professional community, saying: “All of us in the profession, everyone who is a regular user of our services know just how invaluable public libraries are in every aspect of our growing lives. But I also believe a resurgence of community well-being, where public libraries play the centre role is on the future cards – the ethos of the service has not changed, and is still as relevant and powerful today.

“With this CILIP 125 list recognising the passionate, creative and determine people we have joining with our more seasoned colleagues, to advocate for the resources and security we need in reinforcing the backbone of public libraries, so we always have a little bit of everything for everyone – and I think that is really exciting, and worth spending my energy being a part of!”

CILIP Chief Executive Nick Poole wrapped up this year’s conference with a reference to Imogen’s speech, highlighting the real im-pact libraries and information professionals have on people. He said: “One theme has stood out almost more than any other – which is that all of our discussions here, from AI to sustainability, knowledge management to engaging children and young people with books and reading, have been about exploring our common humanity in a new landscape.

“I was looking for a key concept that captured the theme of conference this year, and for me it is really encapsulated in the opening to Imogen Loucas’ acceptance speech for her CILIP 125 medal, where she said that ‘Libraries are the backbone of humanity.’ This idea of our shared humanity has been woven through this entire conference.”

As CILIP marks its 125th anniversary the mood is not about looking backwards, but instead about looking forwards and how the profession can support society in the broadest possible way – from helping business start-ups in high street libraries to KM in corporate power-houses; from providing heath literacy in public libraries to supporting clinicians in hospitals and medical researchers in laboratories; from rhyme times to book deliveries for vulnerable people; delivering educational support in schools, FE colleges, universities and prisons; developing literacy and a love of reading – there is one information profession, but the variety of roles in that profession is huge, and the impact it has on society is endless.

Everyone who joins the profession and everyone who is already a part of it – whether just starting out in their career or a seasoned professional – is making a positive difference.

Discover every member of the CILIP 125 list at https://tinyurl.com/mr787mry.

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