I have been following the debates on LIS-CILIP recently with interest. I agree with Frances' list of benefits gained from other organisation, and agree too that these are all things that CILIP could be looking at.
However, I think one of the most important points that Frances makes is that CILIP could provide employment advise, especially in light of HERA, which colleagues in higher education I am sure would agree with. I do feel that CILIP should be representative of the library profession, and that does not just mean enabling access to databases, journals or producing their own literature, but that it should represent us! And by represented I mean taking our concerns about pay, status etc and taking them to the very highest - and public - levels.
I also believe that you get out what you put in, and I have always been very grateful for the advice that I have been given when I have asked for it. But the point is that I had to ask for this help. What I would really like is to be represented.
And one other thing, how about a base somewhere in the north. Manchester, perhaps ;-) Or maybe that really is wishful thinking...
Sarah
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>>> Frances Hendrix <[log in to unmask]> 14/08/2006 16:25:51 >>>
Just thinking about Jens points, what do we (or me rather), want form a
good membership organisation.
I have always been a member of Cilip, although cant remember when I was
asked to prove this before being offered a job (and I have worked in all
sectors). Currently what do I value:-
the daily news email
Update
in the past:-
meetings
training (but agree the cost for some and the distance may be problem).,
why haven't they (Cilip), looked at e learning and distance learning?
meeting people
particpation in events
What have I got from other organisations that I value:-
Institute of Directors
a great place to meet people and have coffee
a first rate legal service
top notch speakers at high profile interesting and current topics
interesting contacts at meetings
What else could Cilip offer:-
great place to met an have coffee in central London, but not as it is
now
Legal and trade unison type advise for those of us who are employers,
for those of us who are employees
top rate speakers
more contact with people in different sectors, s better networking on a
much wider canvas
much much higher profile and better advocacy
more strength regionally and more support
a better more streamlined and more effective Council
email updates like I get from demos etc on policy issues
an easier to use and more sophisticated web site
less a feeling of introvertness, secrecy and irritation at its more
troublesome members
more opportunities for newer members or non members of the profession to
get involved and be given opportunities to be 'on something's without
having to make some sort of a name first.
more light herded fun about some aspects
that it had much more clout
f
________________________________
From: Chartered Library and Information Professionals
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jenny Delasalle
Sent: 14 August 2006 15:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: what makes a professional?
I would like to be a member of a clever, slick and smart professional
organisation. I am not a member of CILIP any more. They are well
intentioned (the "ethos" is fine) but timely delivery, efficient
organisation and courteous contact have been lacking in my experience,
in spite of those intentions.
I qualified nearly 6 years ago, so I might still count as part of the
new breed. I do not believe that someone who is not a member of CILIP is
not a professional. I have met plenty of both members and non-members
who I respect highly. Mere membership of a professional organisation
does not make one a professional, and nor does chartership status,
particularly when it was achieved many, many years ago. Demonstrated
engagement with one's profession as a whole and indeed with other
professionals, continuing professional development and awareness are all
signs of a professional. CILIP can provide this for its members, and can
be a marker of such professionalism as far as employers are concerned,
but professionals can also seek this out for themselves and demonstrate
it to employers and potential employers.
Indeed non-members may have to go further to demonstrate a professional
attitude and to seek out opportunities whilst members might rest on
their laurels, confident that membership of CILIP is an indication of
their professionalism, regardless of the fact that they never truly
engage with the organisation - this list has been used many times to
point out that members are not contributing enough to CILIP.
The challenge for CILIP is to give the new professionals something that
they want to (& can) contribute to.
I've heard about and contributed to the discussion on CILIP's faults.
I've asked about & read about what competition there is, and have
decided that whilst they provide interesting examples for CILIP to
follow on it's path to improvement, they are not any more likely to meet
my own needs than CILIP.
Someone give me (& other non-members on this list) the reasons to
(re-)join CILIP. Let's balance out this list and hear about other
people's positive experiences, and what CILIP gets right. We don't want
to lose the good stuff whilst we're busy getting rid of all the things
we don't like.
I do miss the Gazette and Update. I think that Lis-jobnet is very
useful, and I do look at the CILIP website from time to time. I think
the training courses all sound very interesting, but am often put off by
the price - there's almost always the cost of travel to London on top to
consider.
What else am I missing out on?
Jen
>>> Diana Nutting <[log in to unmask]> 08/14/06 01:18pm >>>
Why is it a problem to be clever, slick or smart? I see no advantage to
our
profession in being stupid, stodgy and dim. It is perfectly possible top
be
efficient, cost effective, economically viable and outreaching to your
membership and stakeholders, and still have ethics and integrity. the
more
of these qualities we show, the more we will attract the new breed of
informational professional. Or is that what scares some people?
Diana Nutting
-----Original Message-----
From: John Briggs [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 August 2006 12:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Cilip: business model & future
Frances Hendrix wrote:
>
> People are looking for value added, they do want a slick, clever,
> smart, professional organisation to be part of and proud of. To do
> this needs people to run the place with all the skills required today
> of good businesses. Having listened to Nike Marketing people recently
> I was amazed, in many ways. They share some of the same professional
> ethos and challenges, and actually some of their challenges are very
> much the same as 'ours' and Cilips. But they have hugely professional
> people in the relevant disciplines, like marketing etc, running the
> outfit, and these people are totally committed to their organisation.
> Yes I know they make huge profits, but the skills they have, the
> buy-in to the company ethos etc are all to be admired and used as
> examples. We must stop being snotty about the business and commercial
> sector, and learn from the success some of them undoubtedly have.
You know, I think most of your critics will agree that "slick, clever,
smart" is the problem. It doesn't help your case to hold up Nike as a
beacon - their propaganda is that they have changed, but from what?
Their
exploitation of slave-labour conditions in Third-World countries is well
documented. Do we really have to "buy-in" to that sort of "company
ethos"?
John Briggs
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