I was interested to learn that CILIP has recently set up a consultancy
service. The draft Corporate Plan says that this will "further the
knowledge of CILIP members and the wider library and information
community" and will not only set standards for excellence but also
generate a surplus from 2003 onwards.
I have no question with the quality of the service that will be
provided, and I was pleased to see David Haynes' excellent article in
the August issue of "Library + Information Update" which should help
potential clients to understand what consultancy is all about.
I wonder, though, whether it is appropriate for a professional body to
develop services in direct competition with many of its members. There
are many professional consultants already in this field; I have talked
to some others and they reasonably agree that the playing field is not
level if a new service is set up with the name and status of our leading
professional body behind it.
As the new service is intended to make a profit for the Institute, I
presume that it will be treated as a trading organisation similar to
Facet Publishing, with its own accounts, including full charging for
accommodation, overheads, advertising and services that it receives in
the headquarters building, and I assume that these accounts will be
available to members.
Perhaps it is intended that existing consultant members of the Institute
should be associated with the service in some way - this is a
possibility which it would be interesting to hear about, but I suspect
that the level of enthusiasm will depend on whether consultants will
lose out by having to pay commission or introduction fees or whether on
the other hand they will share in some of the profits of the enterprise,
if any.
Will some consultancy services be provided free or at a reduced rate to
CILIP members, in furtherance of the first objective in the initial
paragraph above?
Leonard Will
MCLIP
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Willpower Information (Partners: Dr Leonard D Will, Sheena E Will)
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