CILIP rejects name change and has no confidence in Ed Vaizey

cilipCILIP members voted today (21 September) at CILIP’s AGM on three key issues; whether CILIP should change its name, if the proposed membership subscriptions rates for 2014 should be introduced and if the AGM has ‘no confidence’ in Ed Vaizey MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for public libraries in England.

Members voted in advance by proxy and at the meeting, held at the new Library of Birmingham.

Members voted:

  • Against changing the organisation name to Information & Library Professionals UK (356 members for, 644 members against, 22 abstained)
  • In favour of the proposed subscriptions for 2014 (778 members for, 128 members against, 64 abstained)
  • In favour of the motion expressing ‘no confidence’ in Ed Vaizey MP (669 members for, 200 members against, 103 abstained)

John Dolan, Chair of CILIP Council, said “The AGM is an important opportunity for members to have their say and make decisions. I would like to thank all members that engaged with the issues in advance of the meeting, that cast their votes and came to the AGM in person.

On the name change vote, John said, “A two-thirds majority of votes would have been needed for CILIP to change its name – members have decided, so we won’t change our name. The proposed name change was one part of the rebranding project, which is in turn one part of the broader change programme at CILIP; a change programme to make sure we provide relevant offers to the breadth of the library, information and knowledge professions.

The Defining Our Professional Future consultation in 2010 provided clear direction on the changes and improvements that needed to be made. CILIP has been undergoing fundamental change since then to become a future facing professional body in a really challenging time for members. This has been done in consultation with members, employers and key stakeholders. CILIP Council are committed to this change and to ensuring that there is an awareness of where the profession and the professional body are now, not focusing on the past. 

CILIP staff, Council and activists will continue to work together to deliver this change through our new skills offer, increased advocacy profile, new website, and our policy and campaigning activity. The next year is going to see the launch of more developments in professional qualifications, including a Virtual Learning Environment and further online services, all focused on  members needs where they are today and on promoting the value of what they do as widely as possible.”

On the vote of ‘no confidence’ in Ed Vaizey MP, John said, “We’ve all seen the pressure on public library services in England and we’re all extremely concerned by them. CILIP has identified through surveys the impact that budget reductions are having on staffing, opening hours and library service budgets – as well as building closures. We gave evidence to the Government’s Select Committee Enquiry on Library Closures. We continue to speak up for professionally delivered public library services in the media. We take a lead role with National Libraries Day, and many members get involved. We are supporting the Speak Up For Libraries coalition, whose members include Unison, Voices for the Library and the Library Campaign. We’re working with Arts Council England on the implications of Envisioning the Public Library of the Future.

We’re supporting public library practitioners through CILIP’s new Public and Mobile Libraries Group, led by practitioners in the public library sector. CILIP members and activists work hard together to promote the value that skilled staff bring to library and information services in all sectors. We want to ensure that the voice of the practitioners doing an excellent job under difficult circumstances is heard strongly. The funding environment is tough. New technology and changes to the way we all access information bring significant opportunities yet to be fully captured by public library providers. That means there’s never been a more important time for us to all advocate our value, and to develop and demonstrate our members’ skills, expertise and professionalism.”

ends-

– See more at: http://www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/news/outcomes-cilip-agm#sthash.af9RKEHs.dpuf