Events

Twin Cities Conference and Study Tour by librarians to Finland

Following on from the visit of 12 librarians from Finland and Estonia to Scotland in June 2008, 9 librarians from Scotland attended the Twin Cities Conference with Finnish and Estonian colleagues in Helsinki in May. Presentations were made by President Margaret Forrest; Martyn Wade, NLS; Susan Carragher, Essex County Council; Robert Ruthven, Stirling Council; Liz McGettigan, Edinburgh City Council; and Gillian Anderson of the University of the Highlands and Islands. The conference was followed by a study tour of library buildings in Espoo, Helsinki, Turku and Salo.

Annual Conference

The Annual Conference was held at Peebles, 1-3 June 2009 in the Peebles Hotel Hydro. The theme ‘Inspiring excellence: yourself, your service, our future’ was well-addressed in keynote papers from Jay Jordan, President and CEO of OCLC, Jonathan Mitchener, a Futurologist with BT Innovate, and Mike Russell MSP, the then Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution. These presentations stimulated some lively debate among delegates, who also found a lot to discuss from the speed surgeries highlighting effective practice. Making the most of the opportunity to bring members together, strands specialising in career development and Curriculum for Excellence were included in the conference programme. Around 350 delegates attended the Conference and Branch and Group Day. The exhibition was fully sold and there was strong support from key platinum sponsors and trade delegates.

Speakers from Scotland, Ireland, England, Wales and the USA gave presentations about digital libraries, leadership, RFID, cultural policy and the single outcome agreement. The Branch and Group Day continued to attract day visitors with a range of presentations organised by Branches and Groups. As well as this, a series of themed papers on reader development also took place. The conference finished with Margaret Forrest’s Presidential closing remarks. Presentations from the conference are available via slideshare.

In the run-up to the 2009 Annual Conference, CILIPS officers were conscious of an increasing level of risk surrounding the viability of conferences in the current economic climate, and a decision was taken at the October Council to hold the 2010 conference at the Mitchell Library (7-9th June). This will minimise the risk and also deliver a conference successful in professional and financial terms. The Peebles conferences have been very popular over the years but with pressures on finance, CILIPS is planning to continue to offer relevant and affordable training and networking events.

AGM and Honours

The 7th Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland (CILIPS) was held in the Peebles Hotel Hydro on 3rd June 2009. This attracted a far larger audience than in previous years. The Annual Report and Financial Statement for 2008 were submitted and approved. Under Scottish charities legislation, the Annual Accounts are required by the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator to be presented in a template format. The Director explained that the financial figures were the same but the presentation differed. These were approved.

The AGM also discussed and approved the nominations for Honorary Membership of CILIPS - Alan Hasson, President 2008 and Head of Community Services, Scottish Borders Council, for his work to support the development of library and information services; Michael Roberts, Strathclyde University for representing UR&R(S) on CILIPS Council and for his work in developing higher education library services; Mairi Anderson, Napier University for support for the East of Scotland Branch of CILIPS ; and Marion McLarty, formerly Quality Improvement Manager, Educational Services, North Ayrshire Council for her work in developing school and public library services. These awards were presented at a CILIPS Members Dinner on 27th October 2009.

Louise Wright, University of Strathclyde and Kondwani Wella of the Robert Gordon University, were awarded the CILIPS bronze medal for outstanding work in the course of their studies. Kondwani, who lives in Malawi, was unable to accept his medal in person but Louise accepted her medal at the Branch and Group Day.

Conferences

Support for conferences run by other organisations continues to be given by CILIPS. President Margaret Forrest attended the CILIP Cymru, the joint Irish Library Conference and the Twin Cities Conference in Turku and Helsinki, during which she gave an address. Assistant Director Rhona Arthur was invited to speak at the European Congress on e-inclusion. Elaine Fulton, Director, attended the World Library and Information Congress in Milan with CILIPS Rhona Arthur. Gillian Hanlon from the SLIC/CILIPS Information Team made a presentation about the web 2.0 services on SLAINTE, our joint website with the Scottish Library and Information Council, at a pre-IFLA satellite conference in Florence on Emerging Technologies.