The blogger referred to below says “If anyone can suggest a professional association that truly represents information professionals outside of the library sector I would really like to hear about them”. Well, no mention yet in this discussion of AIIM, an organization that claims to be “the community that provides education, research, and best practices to help organizations find, control, and optimize their information”. Surely of interest to records managers??

 

 

While this is the logical step to consider, I think in practice it might be both difficult to achieve and difficult to 'sell' to members - who would no doubt look to the experiences of the IIS (Institute of Informatin Scientists) when merging with LA to become CILIP and ask themselves whether they wanted to go down that same route.

 

An interesting comment on CILIP's attitude to 'the wider profession', made today by an ex-CILIP member, can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the comments on our blog post at http://suehill.typepad.com/shrweblog/2009/07/the-borough-market-twelve-meet-for-talks-on-professional-associations.html 

 

Nicola

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Nicola Franklin — Direct Line 020 7378 5458
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From: The UK Records Management mailing list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Adam Pope
Sent: 14 September 2009 14:29
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sector representation - first steps?

The proposal to merge RMS and SoA into a new one that encompasses 'information managers' - when CILIP already touts itself as the umbrella organisation for information professionals - will simply drive a harder to heal wedge through the profession. A number of benefits to RMS and SoA members could be found via a merger with CILIP:

• CILIP have well-entrenched special interest groups by subject; Records Managers and Archivists could easily become another if the CILIP exec agreed.
• They already have recognised, rigorous chartership methodology and training in place.
• The CILIP Records Managers Special Interest Group could develop an agreement recognizing ICRM as the official certifying body for the group.
• Huge economy of scale savings could be made for all members - only one website to maintain; one integrated recruitment agency; cheaper printing for the Group magazines; dedicated event management; large and holistic reference library service; the list goes on. 
• Local as well as subject based communities
• One mouthpiece for all information management professionals

Merging SoA and RMS into CILIP is a no-brainer from a 'big picture' perspective. It might prove difficult for some people to consider subsuming their 'baby' into the broader profession however.

I'd expect CILIP to be consulted to see what they can offer, and depending on the upshot, for it to be an option on any upcoming 'referendum'.

Adam Pope
07977238873
London 7755 2916
www.informationhandyman.com