Scotland’s Library and Information Professional of the Year 2023
We are delighted to announce that Scotland’s Library & Information Professional of the Year 2023 is… Jennifer Findlay!
Our award judges commended Jennifer’s exceptional contribution to the profession and her ongoing commitment to impact and innovation, both within her service and the wider CILIPS community.
Jennifer was presented with her award by Helen Bower, Commercial Director of our award sponsor Bolinda Digital, on Monday 5th June at the CILIPS Annual Conference.
Many congratulations to Jennifer from all at CILIP Scotland!
Award Sponsors
Bolinda Digital is an industry leading audiobook publisher, supplying libraries with audiobook content for over 30 years. Bolinda’s innovative lending platform BorrowBox, is the number one solution in the UK and offers a complete end-to-end service to libraries, with the best and most exclusive range of eAudiobooks and eBooks, since digital lending began. BorrowBox allows users to browse, download and borrow eContent in one easy to use app. It is the library that never closes.
2023 Shortlist
After a rigorous judging process, Jennifer was selected as this year’s overall winner from an outstanding shortlist of professionals. Find out more about their achievements by clicking on their names below:
- Graham Fairweather, Senior School Librarian, the High School of Glasgow
- Jennifer Findlay, Head of Library and Archive Services, Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service
- Wendy Kirk, Librarian, Glasgow Women’s Library
- Jimi Mitchell, Senior Library Administrator, the Sir Alex Ferguson Library at Glasgow Caledonian University
- Christine Stewart, Principal Librarian (Reader Development & Literacy – Families and Adults), The Mitchell Library, Glasgow
Nominations are judged on the following criteria:
- Innovation in their workplace or service
- Making a positive contribution to the lives of their service users and/or library community
- Commitment to profession and/or sector: e.g. advocacy, involvement in CILIPS Committee work, Council, Branches, Groups or contribution to things like working groups, publications, training, project work etc.
CILIP 125
To help our affiliate body CILIP celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Royal Charter, for this year’s Scotland’s Library and Information Professional of the Year all longlisted nominees in the first 7 years of their professional life as a librarian, information or knowledge professional have also been put forward for the CILIP 125 list.
Scotland’s Library & Information Professional of the Year 2022
Chris Scott PR & Media Photographer Dundee, Scotland.
The winner of Scotland’s Library & Information Professional of the Year 2022 was SarahLouise McDonald, Academic Support Librarian at the University of Edinburgh.
Our award judges admired SarahLouise’s outstanding commitment to the profession, highlighting in particular her work on Open Educational Resources, accessibility, EDI and libguides. Her enthusiasm for professional advocacy was also commended, with the judges noting her dedication to representing our sector at a very high level.
Many congratulations to SarahLouise from all at CILIP Scotland!
In addition to her trophy, presented at the 2022 CILIPS Annual Conference, SarahLouise received £500 of funding generously provided by our award sponsor Bolinda Digital to be used for professional development opportunities in 2023. Please click here to watch the announcement of the award and SarahLouise’s acceptance speech – ‘inspiring’ and ‘generous’ in the words of award-winning writer and CILIPS22 Keynote Speaker Damian Barr!
SarahLouise was selected by our award judging panel from a shortlist of three outstanding professionals. Click the links below to discover more about their exemplary achievements in post.
Scotland’s Library & Information Professional of the Year 2021
The winner of the 2021 Library and Information Professional of the Year Award was Alison McAllister, Library and Information Service Manager (North Ayrshire Council). Many congratulations Alison!
Alison championed engagement in every aspect of her library service’s work during the Covid-19 pandemic, managing a team who used 3D printers to make visors for NHS staff, worked at community hubs providing information to local residents about food parcels, and supported NHS employees at a mass vaccination centre. Alison led the pandemic digital access project with Connecting Scotland and has also ensured that her staff were supported through regular online meetings and by establishing a ‘Library Links’ newsletter.
The announcement of Alison’s award was made at the CILIPS Autumn ReGathering on 26th October 2021. Alison said ‘it is a great honour to be awarded Library and Information Professional of the Year. I would like to thank CILIPS and the judging panel as well as my fellow nominees and North Ayrshire colleagues who represent all library sectors for the sterling work they do. It has been a challenging time and library services throughout Scotland have been exemplary in supporting their communities and this award is for you all.’
Special thanks to Bolinda Digital for sponsoring this award. In addition to her trophy, Alison received £500 of funding generously provided by Bolinda that can be used for professional development opportunities in 2022.
Alison was selected as winner by our judging panel from a shortlist of three outstanding professionals: find more information on them by clicking on the links below.