CILIP Scotland Newsletter December 2022 |
Wow, what a year (and it's not over yet)! From record-breaking advocacy to an all-new Research Fund and much more, including a special two Dundee days in June, 2022 has been an incredible twelve months for CILIPS. Read on to relive just some of our many highlights... |
|
|
|
With the world in turmoil as our courageous Ukrainian colleagues were forced to fight for their freedom, CILIP sparked into action by launching the Ukraine Crisis Hub. Today, it remains a valuable source of accurate information about the conflict and how to help, as well as holding every signature added to our Statement of Solidarity, including those of our President Amina Shah, Trustee Board Chair Heather Marshall and the entire CILIPS staff team. In such a context, it's unsurprising that our Libraries of Sanctuary webinar had an overwhelming response. We hope you caught last Monday's follow up workshop too!
In brighter news, International Women's Day dawned and President Amina led an empowering and inspiring #WINspiration webinar, part of a series of feminism for libraries events that continued throughout 2022. Did you add a line to our Letter to a New Woman, welcoming women from all backgrounds who are beginning their library careers?
Furthering this spirit of solidarity and collaboration, March also saw the launch of our first-ever Career Mentorship and Job Shadowing scheme. Our pilot pairs have now had their first meetings and news of additional mentorship opportunities will appear in the new year. |
Advocacy is a key part of our work at CILIPS, ensuring that Scotland and the world know why #LibrariesAreEssential to literacy, learning, health, wellbeing and more. With our Scotland's Stories campaign gathering speed as the nation's local government elections neared, our #LibrariesAreEssential - The Evidence event shared impactful research like Downloading a New Normal, an extensive investigation into digital library service use during the pandemic that powerfully reaffirmed the importance of physical library spaces, and The Transformative Space of the Library, a 2-year research project exploring the case study of Glasgow Women’s Library through interviews, archive work, media analysis and participant observation. No wonder it remains our most rewatched online learning to date!
Literally growing from our COP-inspired #CILIPSGoGreen resource collection, we also publicized our Carbon Neutrality Plan with a template version available for all libraries to adapt. |
|
|
'The best conference I have ever been to.’ ‘A brilliant programme, as ever!’ ‘It was so good – so inspiring – actually it has helped me cement where I want to be in my library career!’ ‘Disneyland for librarians.’
Our delegates said it all when it came to our 2022 Annual Conference: two days of inspiration and innovation that celebrated Scotland's Libraries as the Homes of Scotland's Stories. With incredible keynotes from award-winning author and libraries advocate Damian Barr, the first woman editor of Scotland on Sunday and The Herald newspapers Catherine Salmond, Curator of Discomfort Zandra Yeaman and world-renowned broadcaster Gemma Cairney, as well as fascinating parallel sessions on Autism Inclusion for Libraries, Sustainability, School Libraries, #ebookSOS and much more, #CILIPS22 was not to be missed. Enjoy our session recordings here.
We were also thrilled to award Scotland's Library & Information Professional of the Year to 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. Click to watch the announcement of the award and SarahLouise’s acceptance speech – ‘inspiring’ and ‘generous’ in the words of Damian Barr! |
|
|
After the conference launch of the CILIPS Research Fund, offering up to £10,000 in financial support for work contributing to libraries advocacy, we were jumping for joy in July when CILIP also awarded accreditation to 'An Introduction to Information Management’, a new micro-credentials programme offered by the University of Glasgow. The course 'is a great way for learners to continue professional development with flexibility at any location,' noted Senior University Lecturer Adele Redhead, 'while gaining and developing industry-relevant skills and knowledge'.
Speaking of professional expertise, the month also saw far less celebratory news as North Lanarkshire Council confirmed plans to 'delete' every secondary school librarian post. The battle continues - with East Renfrewshire also since opening a consultation on a similarly short-sighted proposal - but we are proud of how the entire CILIPS community came together in solidarity with our North Lanarkshire colleagues: writing to decision makers, signing a 40,000 petition, sharing posters in person and on social media, and amplifying the voices of library champions like Damian Barr, Kerry Hudson and Theresa Breslin O.B.E.
To speak out in support of East Renfrewshire's school librarians, please follow our Call to Action and fill in the consultation survey before 9th December. |
|
Even in the summer holidays, the CILIPSphere never stops spinning, and August saw us announce exciting news about our Libraries Week plans: including the (now legendary) quiz that saw our Branches and Groups compete for library glory! Reflecting on our exceptionally encouraging conference feedback, we also published a CILIPS22 x CILIPSGoGreen - how did we do? analysis, highlighting the ways in which we and our delegates worked together to reduce the conference carbon footprint, as well as our plans to do even more in 2023. |
Autumn arrived and with it the first in our series of 2022 online Autumn Gatherings: Building a Media, Digital and Information Literate Scotland in partnership with Scotland's Information Literacy Community of Practice. The inspiring professional development continued with our Banned Books Week webinar, featuring learning from Glasgow Women's Library and Unite Against Book Bans. The #CILIPSGoGreen community also marked Scotland's Climate Week with a series of brilliant blogs: libraries inspiring sustainable travel, library climate justice and how words can change the world! |
Remember, remember, just how busy we were in November? As temperatures dropped and concerns rose for the most vulnerable members of our library communities, CILIP collaborated with Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis to fast track a comprehensive set of guidelines: ‘A Warm Welcome. Setting up a warm space in your community’. The vital role of libraries in catalysing social justice was also evident at #NotOurJob, a WINspiration special focused on eradicating sexual harassment in libraries, as well as at Libraries of Sanctuary 2.0, a follow up for applications in progress inspired by March's event.
Our third and final online Autumn Gathering for the year, Libraries Supporting Learners, further illustrated the depth and breadth of ways that libraries are essential to learning environments, complete with an utterly inspiring keynote by award-winning author and educator Richard Gerver. |
Tayside Branch's online AGM is taking place at 6pm today, offering the chance to connect with Branch colleagues and share ideas as Tayside plan their local CPD support and social events for 2023. Please email branch secretary Neil Paterson at neil.paterson@leisureandculturedundee.com to receive this evening's meeting papers and Zoom joining details. |
As the school term draws to a close, SLG Scotland's online Drop in and Vent at 5pm this Tuesday 6th December offers a great opportunity to share your school library news and views via a friendly, informal venting event! |
Grab some mulled wine and put on your warmest quiz hats: it's time for the annual SNPC Christmas Quiz! At 6.30pm on Wednesday 7th December, get to know fellow students and new professionals in the field by joining SNPC for some fun question rounds that will put your bookish and general knowledge to the test. In addition to the online quiz, they'll also invite everyone to come together in Glasgow on Friday night, 9th December, to celebrate the proud winners! |
CILIPS Central Branch warmly invites members to attend its Annual General Meeting with the promise of festive treats! Taking place on Tuesday 13th December at 4pm, in person AGM attendees will meet at Larbert Public Library, 22 Hallam Road, Larbert FK5 3BF. This will be a hybrid AGM with the opportunity to engage online too. Please email Yvonne Manning, Central Branch secretary, at yvonne.manning@falkirk.gov.uk by Monday 12th to confirm your attendance or to receive the digital joining information if applicable. |
|
CILIPS North, North East and Tayside Branches invite their members to an online Meet the President with Amina Shah on Tuesday 13th December, 7-8pm. Amina will reflect on her career and experiences in the library and information profession, and her talk will be followed by an opportunity for questions, discussion and networking. At the conclusion of Meet the President, North East Branch will also hold their AGM, for which everyone and especially all NE members are very welcome to stay on. |
We hope you've enjoyed this whistlestop tour of the last 12 months at CILIPS. Stay tuned for more in 2023! |
|
|
|
|