In my experience it's self-starters who get more from their CILIP membership
- because they are involved and constantly learning from the whole sector.
Liz Dubber

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Morris [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 10 February 2003 10:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


Ah, the true voice of post-Thatcher Britain.
Bit of a waste subscribing to Cilip if you're a self-starter, isn't it?

Mike Morris, Librarian [1], ISCA
51 Banbury Rd., Oxford OX2 6PE 01865 274671

[1] I know, I should be ashamed.....

----- Original Message -----
From: Manjeet  <mailto:[log in to unmask]> Dhillon
To: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 9:43 AM
Subject: Re: Image of librarians

Stop packaging yourselves as Skodas! Keep feeling sorry for yourselves then
then everyone else will too! I launched into my career as a luxury sportscar
(think Jinx - you can call that sexy if you like); yes, there is a stigma
surrounding the 'L' word, therefore I don't use it to describe myself as
such - I love what I do but I don't feel I am a Librarian in the
old-fashioned sense of the word; in fact, I spend 2 hours in every fortnight
behind the counter. Pay rises won't magically happen just by moaning in
unison (even strikes don't work any more). If you're not paid enough, go
look for something that does pay well; if you need qualifications to get
there - go study. Above all, sell yourself. I don't rely on Cilip on anyone
else to carry me forward in my career - only I can be responsible for that.
Come on, who's with me???
Manjeet

-----Original Message-----
From: Frances Hendrix [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 February 2003 17:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


But it would seem we need a leg up, so to speak, as with Skoda. Once we have
raised the profile, we should all individually work at keeping the image in
everyone's mind, but at present we are starting at the Skoda end of things.
Is the image the reality I ask?
Have you never been at a party or social event, when, when asked what you
did, and replied people sort of say 'oh', and move on, either to another
topic or physically?

-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Hall, Chris
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 11:15 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


Perhaps we should look at employing whoever was responsible for the Skoda
campaigns of the last few years!  No, I'm not serious, but there is a
serious point.  There is a company which instead of trying to ignore its
former dowdy image used it positively to launch its new image.  Is there a
lesson in there perhaps?  In the end, though, it is (as Stephen and others
have pointed out) the substance not the surface that counts.


Chris Hall
Bibliographical Services Librarian
Corporation of London Libraries
Email:[log in to unmask]
Tel: 020 7332 1075



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen Ayre [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 February 2003 10:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


I totally agree with this comment. The 'image' of a profession is created by
people's personal experience of it. It is down to librarians and information
professionals at the grass roots level offering excellent service to their
users/customers. I fear that any money spent on a PR company will be swamped
by the general 'noise' of all the advertising and promotion that goes on in
the world.

Regards,
Stephen Ayre
Information Assistant
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Health Promotion Agency
92 Regent Road
Leicester
LE1 7PE

0116 258 8878
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: MacNaughtan, Alasdair (LIFELONG LEARNING)
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 February 2003 10:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


I'm not entirely sure that hiring a PR company is the best way forward.  It
seems to me that unless the 'product' is right, you can't sell it and unless
everyone in the profession - and that includes clerical and administrative
staff - works at improving their own image, then we shall not have a better
image to promote. If we succeed, we shall hardly need a PR company

--
Alasdair MacNaughtan
City Librarian,
Plymouth Library Services
Tel: 01752-305901

Visit us on the web:   www.plymouthlibraries.info

-----Original Message-----
From: Samantha Brookes [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 07 February 2003 09:20
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


But what about people who don't go into public libraries. I work in a
Careers Service at a university and when we tell graduates that information
is available on the internet their response is often that they don't have a
computer and therefore don't have access to it.

>>> [log in to unmask] 07/02/03 09:30:56 >>>

But Resource recently engaged a firm of PR Consultants to assist in the
promotion of the Peoples Network, and it is in every public library, and was
relaunched lat night at House of Commons.

-----Original Message-----
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Samantha Brookes
Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 8:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Image of librarians


An example of an area where we could have had a higher profile is in
People's Network. This is a major initiative that potentially affects
everyone but I'm guessing that many people have not even heard of it.

If we want a higher profile then we need to tell the world what benefits
libraries and information can bring to everyone not just think that we are
valuable but under valued!



Samantha Brookes
Data and Information Co-ordinator
Careers Service
University of Warwick



THIS E-MAIL AND ANY ATTACHED FILES ARE CONFIDENTIAL AND MAY BE LEGALLY
PRIVILEGED. If you are not the addressee, any disclosure, reproduction,
copying, distribution or other dissemination or use of this communication is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error please
notify the sender immediately and then delete this e-mail.

Opinions, advice or facts included in this message are given without any
warranties or intention to enter into a contractual relationship with the
Corporation of London unless specifically indicated otherwise by agreement,
letter or facsimile signed by an authorised signatory of the Corporation.

Any part of this e-mail which is purely personal in nature is not authorised
by the Corporation of London. All e-mail through the Corporation's gateway
is potentially the subject of monitoring.

All liability for errors and viruses is excluded.





This e-mail and any attachments are strictly confidential and intended
for the addressee only.
If you are not the named addressee you must not disclose, copy or take any
action in reliance of this transmission and you should notify us as soon
as possible.
This e-mail and any attachments are believed to be free from viruses but
it is your responsibility to carry out all necessary virus checks and
Gloucestershire County Council accepts no liability in connection
therewith.