On 8 December CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals will launch Encompass, a positive action trainee scheme to encourage black and minority ethnic community members to choose a career in library and information work. 

In the UK one person in thirteen comes from an ethnic minority, and among library and information staff it could be as few as one in forty-four. Currently the library and information profession is unrepresentative of the society it serves and is missing out on a great deal of potential talent. The Encompass scheme will start addressing this under-representation with a target of recruiting 50 trainees over five years.

Ayub Kan, Chair of CILIP’s Equal Opportunities & Diversity Panel explains the value of a diverse workforce:

“There is now a legal imperative for action on equality and diversity issues, but there is also a sound business case to be made. Good recruitment practices, which lead to a more diverse workforce, give employers access to a comprehensive range of knowledge, experience and skills.”

A diverse workforce can help access new markets and will improve a library’s image as an employer. Many black and minority ethnic librarians will have additional language, cultural skills and knowledge that they can bring to a library role. They will have first-hand experience or be familiar with the information needs and information seeking behaviour of their own communities, or of international students, in the case of university libraries.

The first phase of the Encompass scheme is to recruit graduates from UK universities into a three-year trainee programme. By the end of the programme the trainees will have completed a CILIP accredited course and have become Chartered Librarians. It is hoped that the trainees will become champions for the profession amongst black and minority ethnic communities.

The scheme was developed in collaboration with the skills development agency Path National. A successful pilot took place with the London Borough of Lewisham, National Institute of Medical Research, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Following the launch a series of briefings for employers and potential trainees at a number of venues around England will take place. It is hoped that the scheme may be adopted in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

To find out more about the scheme visit www.cilip.org.uk/encompass or email [log in to unmask].

- ends -

Press Contacts:

Marion Huckle, Head, Qualifications and Professional Development

Email: [log in to unmask]

Tel:  020 7255 0610

Mark Taylor, Head of Corporate Marketing and Media Relations

Email: [log in to unmask]

Tel: 020 7255 0654

Mobile: 07792 635 305

Notes to editors:

CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers. It forms a community of around 36,000 people engaged in library and information work, of whom around 21,000 are CILIP members and around 15,000 are regular customers of CILIP Enterprises. Visit www.cilip.org.uk for more information about CILIP