Three briefings for public library staff

A CILIP Training Session for Staff Working in Public Libraries

Online, Half-Day Course
16 April 2024 10am-1pm

Course Level

This session is suitable for staff at all levels. The sessions may be of particular interest to library staff who want to increase their broader knowledge and understanding of current public library issues.

Delegates may also attend specifically to further their understanding of the ethics of challenging situations, what library services in the future could look like or those considering working towards a CILIP qualification.

Delegates can attend all three briefings across the morning or just those that are of most interest and relevant to their work and situation. Presenters: Yvonne Morris, Ben Lee and Claire Laybats.

PART ONE: 10.05-10.55
Managing Safe and Inclusive Public Library Services

This CILIP guide provides public library staff with a clear decision-making framework to deal with challenging issues in public libraries. It is intended to assist public library staff who make decisions around stock, public internet access, use of space and putting on events and activities.

This part will present an overview of CILIP’s updated guidance. Delegates will be introduced to key principles intended to provide library staff with a clear decision-making framework to help them prepare for and deal with challenging issues in public libraries.

It will then suggest ways of applying these principles, including considerations for presentation and promotion of stock, acceptable internet use policies and the use of public spaces. Attendees will be taken through a toolkit of resources designed to support the guidance, including checklists and posters, and hear some simple, practical examples of libraries delivering safe, trusted and inclusive services for their communities.

Part One Presenter: Yvonne Morris, Projects and Programmes Manager, CILIP

Yvonne Morris is Projects and Programmes Manager at CILIP. A Chartered Librarian, she firmly believes that library, information and knowledge workers are a force for positive change within society, organisations and communities.

Yvonne has a strong interest in the development of professional policy in the library, information and cultural heritage sectors, and in professional ethics. Outside of work, she loves poetry, local history and being outdoors.

Part One Learning Objectives:

Delegates will:

• Understand how CILIP’s guidance on managing safe and inclusive public library services and its supporting resources can be a source of simple, practical support to library staff in their work.
  
• Increase understanding of the role of library workers in promoting the intellectual freedom of library users and in opposing censorship.
  
• Feel more confident in responding to challenges to decisions about the provision of access to information, events, activities or public spaces.
  
• Learn about practical ways to deliver safe, trusted and inclusive services for the communities served by libraries.

PART TWO: 11.10-12.00
Come Rain or Shine: Preparing public libraries for the future in an age of uncertainty

This briefing provides a rapid introduction to the concept of futures literacy and the role of scenarios in futures studies. It introduces delegates to the future libraries report Come rain or shine and the UK toolkit which accompanies it. Delegates then take part in a practical exercise to develop a set of scenarios and explore how these can be used for improving a library service and making it more resilient to uncertainty. There will also be a brief discussion of the links to the Sanderson Review of English Public Libraries.

Attendees are recommended to read Come rain or shine before attending. 

Part Two Presenter: Ben Lee, Director, Shared Intelligence

Ben has been involved in public policy research and development for 25 years. He is currently a co-director of the consultancy Shared Intelligence and is most often engaged in designing research, supporting organisations to evidence impact, conducting policy review, and facilitating peer learning.

He works with community volunteers, public sector professionals, and elected representatives. He has a particular interest both in futures literacy and public libraries. He is one of the founders of an international professional development programme teaching futures and scenarios skills, and recently led a study of the future of public libraries for CILIP in the UK. He was also a founding trustee of Local Trust from 2012 to 2020. 

Part Two Learning Objectives:

Delegates will:

• be able to produce a scenario matrix by combining two strategic uncertainties
  
• gain an understanding of the concept of futures literacy and why it is important for those delivering public services. 

PART THREE: 12.05-12.55
CILIP Professional Registration
An introduction to CILIP's levels of Professional Registration: Certification, Chartership and Fellowship.

Part Three Presenters:
Claire Laybats, Professional Development Manager, CILIP

Claire's responsibilities in her role at CILIP include professional registration, accreditation and apprenticeships. She oversees the end point assessment service delivered through CILIP Pathways. 

Claire has worked within the information and knowledge sector since 2004 firstly with TFPL in recruitment, then heading up training and events, then as Head of KIM Consultancy. Most recently, before joining CILIP, she worked for Jinfo in commercial and customer facing roles.

She is joint editor of the Business Information Review, a role which she has held since 2014.

Nicola Forgham-Healey, Principal Knowledge and Information Manager, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Nicki has been an information professional for over 20 years and has worked in a variety of sectors such as corporate and academic and has spent 17 years working in the NHS. She is currently the Principal Knowledge and Information Manager at Dstl, focusing on Knowledge Management. She has obtained both her Chartership (2007) and Fellowship (2021), and regularly undertakes revalidation.

Nicki has been involved with CILIP both at regional and national level, holding a variety of committee roles. She is currently the Professional Registration Professional Officer (PRSOs) for the South West region and chairs the national PRSO group. She regularly provides online training on a variety of professional registration courses, such as getting started and reflective writing.

Part Three Learning Objectives:

Delegates will gain an understanding of:

• the different levels of professional registration
• the different flavours of professional registration
• the process of submitting an application for professional registration

Venue: Online using Zoom

Delegates will be sent details of the Zoom link as part of their joining instructions.

There are online training sessions for public library staff throughout 2024: find out more

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