Ian Snowley's blog

In the news!

I've been 'fortunate' to have featured in two publications this week - the 'Independent on Sunday', in the feature on CILIP Qualifications, and in an 'end of term' interview for 'Research Information'.

The IoS article was a repeat of the feature in the Guardian last year, and once again I'm convinced that this is a useful and appropriate way to help spread the word about the value of librarians (and information professionals) and our qualifications.

Without sounding like I'm protesting too much! I do want to say that I had no say in the layout and would have happily traded a smaller photo for more quotes!

As for the interview in Research Information December/January (latest issue not online at the time of writing), I was really pleased to be asked to do this - and happy to reflect the importance of this sector of the profession.

Perhaps inevitably in a phone interview there are things that didn't come out quite as I had intended. So let me say that the membership figure I quote is my estimation of those involved in supporting research (not necessarily commercial) activity.

Regional Round-Up

Last month I had the opportunity to meet a number of CILIP members from a wide range of libraries through two events; firstly in at a Yorkshire & Humberside Branch Day held at the National Science Learning Centre in York. As well as meeting members from the region, I also got to see the very impressive Resource Centre at the NSLC and to take part in a practical session on Wikis!

The second event was one of my 'back to the floor' events, and I spent a day with the Library team in the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust based at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. I was made very welcome by Brenda Goddard and her team, and it was very interesting to see just how wide the user base of the library was. Taking in clinicians in the hospital, medical and nursing students and a wide range of health professionals in the surrounding area.

As well as finding out about the library and its services, I got to tour the site and enjoy lunch with senior staff from the Trust and librarians (representing public, college and university libraries) from the Winchester area. This provided a great opportunity to find out what's happening in the region from a range of perspectives. All in all this was a very enjoyable and stimulating day.

Famous conference delivers!

I'm writing this from the CILIP Publicity & Public Relations Group (PPRG) Conference ('Your Space or Mine') held as usual in the dramatic setting of the Waterside Hotel by the Lake in Grasmere, Cumbria.

The day started with a really fascinating presentation from Rachel van Riel - focusing on the idea of space for reading. She gave delegates lots of food for thought with some really inspiring examples of redesigns which have transformed outdated public libraries into really inviting modern spaces.

This was followed by an excellent presentation from Sue Sparks talking about her role in modernising libraries in Kent, and the really good community consultation and engagement that has helped to make a success of their projects.

After lunch I took off to explore the lake and village, but the programme continues with a workshop to the complete the afternoon, and the presentation of the Group's Marketing Excellence Awards before dinner tonight.

Sessions resume Saturday morning, before we all head back home eager to put some ideas into action.This is my first time at the conference, but I'm sure it won't be my last.

Doing 'time' with the Prison Library Reading Group

I had the privilege last week to visit the Library at HM Prison Birmingham, and to join the Library Reading Group 'The Bookies' for one of their meetings.

You can read a short report in a future copy of CILIP Gazette, so I'll limit myself to saying that I was very impressed by the Library, and the dedication of the staff, led by Sue Wilkinson. It really was a most enjoyable prison visit!

A grand day out!

Well this week was dominated by CILIP Members' Day on Thursday, this event comprising of a showcase of CILIP services, workshops, the President's Address, Presentation of Fellowships and the AGM! really does represent a high-point in the CILIP year - its also quite a busy and tiring day for the President.

In fact events started the night before with an informal dinner for new Fellows, which was a pleasant way to meet and congratulate the awardees.

Then it was an early start at Ridgmount Street for the showcase, which provided me with a further opportunity to chat with some members - including quite a number from different parts of the health sector. This was followed with a brief foray into the virtual world with an appearance in the CILIP Second Life Office - including the usually inappropriate flying and walking through walls!

There was then some preparation for the afternoon, and a brief opportunity to relax over lunch.

After that it was time for my Presidential Address - I was pleased by the turn-out and the positive reaction from the audience, but I'm not in a position to judge it. You can read the text, as delivered here on the CILIP website.

My speech was followed directly by the award of the Fellowships and Honorary Fellowships - this really is a very important public recognition of the work our members do and the impact they have. It was particularly pleasing to see a number of close friends amongst the recipients.

After a well-earned but very brief tea break, it was back to the lecture theatre for the AGM - I've said elsewhere that this really is a vital point in the life of CILIP - and I'm pleased to report that whilst there was lively discussion and debate, the meeting supported the changes to the Charter and Bye-Laws by the required margin to bring them into force from January 2008.

That means that my term of office as President will come to a close at the end of December - but that's a small price to pay for the other changes which really will bring about a new more efficient and more effective governance structure for the Institute. I'm hoping that the elections go well, and that they result in a really good trustee body to take the organisation forward.

So all in all, a positive, forward looking, enjoyable (exhausting) and important day for CILIP and the profession as a whole.

Aye Write*

*The Glasgow Literary Festival based in the Mitchell Library.

I spent the majority of last week in Glasgow for the PLA Conference 'Inform, Educate, Entertain - whose role is it anyway?'

The event hosted by Culture and Sport Glasgow, provided me with a rapid refresher course on current Public Library issues and a great opportunity to visit three local library projects - the Mitchell (of course) The Gorbals Library and The Bridge at Easterhouse.

The travelling also provided an opportunity to do some rapid reading - see the post 'Brought to Book'!

Behind locked doors?

I'm just back from the Prison Libraries Group conference, 'Changing Face of Prison Libraries' held just outside Scunthorpe, and the event was a real eye-opener for me.

I have no experience of prison libraries, and so speaking to the delegates and organisers, both before and at the conference has really given me an insight into a 'closed world'. Its very clear that Prison Libraries really do make a real difference to offenders lives, and have the potential to help them become effective members of society on release. So I'm very grateful to the committee for inviting me along, and for making me so welcome.

But it was also very clear from the conference that there are a lot of barriers in the way, including the increasing prison population, and the operational difficulties that brings. Along with budget restrictions, and the fact that most services are provided by the local Public Library service - which has an impact on the librarian's position in the prison hierarchy.

Despite these issues, I left the conference (still underway), very impressed by the dedication and passion of the delegates I met - and very positive about the contribution they make to the profession. The group is working to devise a national scheme to 'welcome' ex-offenders to their local public library on release, this needs the support of other groups (in and outside of CILIP), and I do hope that the work started at the conference will turn into a very successful scheme - because I'm convinced it will be an important part of librarians' contribution to equality of access.

I'm planning to extend my knowledge further, with a visit to HMP Birmingham later this month - so more to follow.

Back to school

I said at the beginning of my term of office, that I wanted to cover as much of the profession and meet as many members (and potential members) as possible - so earlier this week I spent a day visiting two school libraries in Oxfordshire to find out about an area of work that I haven't experienced.

I had an excellent day split between the independent Headington School, and the maintained Wallingford School - and I certainly got a good idea of the ways in which a good library can put itself at the heart of the curriculum and the school.

I won't say more, because I have dedicated my next Update column to some reflections on the visit, and there will be a brief report in the Gazette as well.

I also kept my hand in with library education by meeting this year's intake of students from UCL - SLAIS at an induction meeting at CILIP on Friday.

Understanding our community - understanding ourselves

My other CILIP activity last week, was a day-trip to Nottingham for a day school organised by the Midlands and Anglia sub-branch of the Local Studies Group.

The event provided an excellent opportunity to hear about the innovative way local studies is being incorporated into a range of activities including supporting the school curriculum. We also had a fascinating behind the scenes look at TV programmes such as 'Who do you think you are?' from historian and TV researcher Nick Barratt.

I was delighted to be asked to present the 2006 'Dorothy McCulla Memorial Prize' to Committee member, and day school organiser Eleanor Nannestad in recognition of her long and dedicated service to the group.

A good day out, and an excellent opportunity to appreciate the contribution that local studies work makes to the Public Library's community role.

CILIP Round-Up

I've been involved in a number of CILIP activities in the last week or so, so I thought I'd do a quick round-up to cover them all.

I'll start with the debate about public libraries stocking 'extremist' literature as raised in a report by the Centre for Social Cohesion and reported on Newsnight recently - I was pleased to be able to contribute to the CILIP Press Release which was sent out in response to the coverage. We decided to focus on two issues - CILIP's position on censorship and the importance of professional librarians to balanced stock selection. You can read the press release on the CILIP website.

Moving on, at the end of last week I took part in the 'speed networking' during the Graduate Open Day held in Ridgmount Street - this is a great opportunity for new and prospective professionals to find out about CILIP and the important role it can have in their careers. So I was pleased to have been invited along, and very happy to have a go at the speed networking, even though it proved fairly gruelling. The attendees had interesting questions, and seemed to be very keen on the profession, so it was definitely enjoyable and worthwhile.

And finally I've just returned from a brief visit to the YLG Annual Conference 'Shout, Whisper and Sing' held at Hatfield University. I was able to attend a couple of sessions on the Saturday afternoon, including a fascinating presentation on the 'Head Space' project which is enabling young people to have a say in planning and running the spaces provided for them, in this case in Plymouth Libraries - though it is a national project.

In the evening I had the great pleasure of re-presenting the CILIP Kate Greenaway and Carnegie Medals to this year's winners Mini Grey and Meg Rosoff, followed by a really enjoyable celebration dinner. It was very encouraging to see the enthusiasm and energy of the delegates - so I really enjoyed my time at the conference