-----Original Message-----
From: Carol Ince (ulsci)
Sent: 13 January 2004 09:25
To: 'mark.ludlam'
Subject: RE: Looking for a job?
Does anyone know how CILIP compares with the ALA on promotion
of the status of librarians?
You need a Masters for most professional positions in the States, I believe,
but I've often wondered if our Charters would be comparable.
I've spoken to some US librarians who feel that the Masters requirement
helps in academic librarianship because faculties know that subject and other
librarians are as well qualified as the academic staff.
Perhaps if Charters and Chartership were better promoted by CILIP,
particularly in the context of employers, we'd be better valued.
Maybe just promotion of what you have to be able to do,
to be a librarian, would help generally. Lots of people are amazed when
they find out the breadth of what we actually do- why don't they know
already?
I did think that the people's network might be an opportunity to
promote the profession as well as addressing people's information needs.
After all, once people know what we can do, they do make use of us
and our services.
The neglect of public libraries must partly contribute to how people
view librarians- the public library is the main point of contact that
most people have with librarians, and if they see us in the context
of run down buildings and poor resources, of course they associate us
with something of low value.
A siege mentality also contributes
to a lack of willingness to be innovative- if anything goes wrong,
there is a chance that other funding will be cut.
In Scotland, postgraduate LIS courses are funded by SAAS-
so there is some recognition that there is a need for people
with information skills.
The People's Network and initiatives such as Universities for Industry
and Lifelong Learning should be opportunities to promote the
profession as well as contributing to the information needs of our society.
Are we waiting for some kind of trickle down to the general population, of awareness of our value,
as a result of these initiatives, or is the opportunity just being missed?
Where, in the space between central government and local government,
is the perceived need for improved information skills being pushed down
the agenda? If CILIP , the DOI, and the DCMS are out kicking backsides,
why isn't it evident yet?
If there is money to promote recruitment to the armed forces, the police, and
the nursing profession, why isn't there any at all for information professions?
The adverts for the careers mentioned above all spell out what's involved in the
job- we need something like this (IMHO).
Enough rant for one morning- I'm away to get on with my job.
All the best to everyone,
Carol.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: list for CILIP members working towards MCLIP status
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of mark.ludlam
> Sent: 13 January 2004 00:17
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Looking for a job?
>
>
> Although I've been on this list now for a number of years I've never
> contributed until now. Tracey is right to mention the cost-benefit
> analysis of obtaining a degree or even a masters. Most
> first/second LIS
> jobs tend to be just over £15,000 - exactly the threshold by which
> former students now have to pay back their loans. Becoming a
> librarian
> is therefore one guaranteed way to remain in poverty through
> the first
> few years of your new working life.
>
> In Wales all FE college lecturers now start off on 19K. I am on a
> similar salary but I have been working in FE as a librarian for 12
> years. The salary level definitely has an impact on how I am
> perceived
> my college. I too love my job but I find it galling to be
> expected to
> "support" new teaching staff (some of whom I remember as A-Level
> students), whose salary levels and status all surpass mine
> within a few
> short years.
>
> Some have suggested "keep chipping away", but sometimes it's
> impossible
> to chip away at a granite block when all you've got is a
> glass hammer.
> I think this individual approach is the weakest method.
> Collectively
> we are far stronger and this is where CILIP must take it's
> share of the
> blame. This state of affairs hasn't just happpened. It has been
> happening for years and our profession has not been protected. Can
> anyone name a chartered organisation (lawyers, accountants, surveyors
> etc.) that would be happy to see the majority of its members
> on such low
> salary levels? The trend towards de-skilling is a global one which
> affects many professions, but it is time we said "No More".
> Kathy Ennis
> at CILIP is doing a terrific job, but it should be the whole
> organisation, from its leadership supported by its members,
> who should
> be making this issue a central plank of all our activities.
>
> Regards
>
> Mark Ludlam
>
> Tracey Paddon wrote:
>
> > hi sue
> >
> > i totally agree and commend you on what you are saying. i think many
> > people have missed the point. we all know we did not come
> into the job
> > for
> > money but when other professions with less qualifications
> than we have
> > get
> > more money it is more than annoying to realise that
> obviously our jobs
> > are
> > not deemed important.
> >
> > if you look at some of the posts which are coming up
> recently. many of
> > them are not professional posts and are either paying well
> as they are
> > managerial posts or paying less than what i am recieving
> whic isn't much
> > as not been in the profession long.
> >
> > when i have spoken to other professionals in other areas
> they are also
> > undergoing review of posts. many qualified posts are
> becoming unqualified
> > but doing qualified work with less pay and many
> non-qualified posts like
> > library managers are being paid a lot more.
> >
> > we won't have a profession left at this rate.
> >
> > tracey
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, 9 Jan 2004 09:13:10 -0000, Sue Lawson
> > <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> >> I was referring to the downgrading and/or reclassification
> of qualified
> >> posts to the non-qualified level in order to reduce costs,
> not pay in
> >> general.
> >>
> >> The job evaluation process in Manchester Library and
> Information Service
> >> has adopted a policy of reviewing librarian's work with
> the intent of
> >> minimizing the position to a lower grade, which does not require a
> >> graduate degree. This step represents a professional
> demotion of public
> >> service librarians.
> >>
> >> Library management should be supporting the status of the library
> >> profession by demonstrating the value of our profession to
> those who
> >> control the purse strings rather than demean its own staff
> expertise and
> >> education.
> >>
> >> Sue Lawson
> >> Librarian
> >> Commercial Library
> >> Manchester Library and Information Service
> >> Central Library
> >> St Peters Square
> >> Manchester
> >> M2 5PD
> >>
> >>
> >> Tel: 0161 234 1995
> >> Fax: 0161 237 5974
> >> Email: [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >>
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> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Tracey Paddon
> > [log in to unmask]
> >
>
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