This from the report sent to Council back in 2010 about roles:
"most librarians are happy to be called ‘librarians’. They feel this is
a term that the public recognises even if they are unaware of the
difference between a qualified and an unqualified librarian. While
alternative job titles were mentioned, the difficulty with these titles
is that they mean nothing to those working outside the knowledge and
information domain. Therefore, respondents generally feel that the label
for the job is less important than raising the profile of what the
profession entails, which is regarded as the task of the professional
association."
Which rather suggests that CILIP should be looking to promote librarians
as more than just books, rather than brushing the name under the carpet
and hoping those of us who identify as librarians regardless of job
title will just quietly roll over.
Phil makes some interesting points in his post, and I do actually think
that re-branding is an important part of the swathe of changes being
made at CILIP HQ that will make the CILIP (or whatever it ends up being)
something quite different in a very good way in 2014 and beyond.
However, I think libraries are about a lot more than information, and to
exclude libraries or librarians from the name of the organisation
devalues those not-directly-information-related aspects (I'd be
hard-pressed to see how something like the prestigious Carnegie &
Greenaway awards sit within an organisation just about information).
One of the critical aspects of the re-branding exercise is surely to
make CILIP recognisable to all - libraries, even where people have
misconceptions about them, are a powerful brand and should at least be
part of the future.
Lizz Jennings
--
Lizz Jennings BA MSc ACLIP MCLIP
Information Librarian (E-Resources) - Chartered
University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY UK
Ext. 3475 (External 01225 383475)
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