CILIP and continuing professional development

Abstract

Keywords

CILIP professional development professional recognition CPD professional registration accreditation apprenticeships royal charter library information management knowledge management

CILIP is the leading voice for the information, knowledge management and library profession. They’re here for everyone who has a professional connection to information, knowledge, data and libraries and shares in the belief of their power to change lives.

It is the only library, information and knowledge management organisation with a Royal Charter granted in 1898 to ensure that the organisation ‘… work for the benefit of the public to promote education and knowledge through the establishment of libraries and information services and to advance information science’.

Their purpose is to unite, support and empower information professionals across all sectors. With members from across the library and information sector as seen below:

CILIP has an excellent CPD offer for its members to enhance their skills and knowledge in the library, information and knowledge management sector. Here, we will explore the offers and how being a member of CILIP can enhance careers.

PKSB

The PKSB tool is available to all CILIP members and is an excellent way to track knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for the library and information profession. It helps to identify expertise and gaps in knowledge and skills to enable users to seek out the right training and CPD to close gaps and use in appraisals to highlight skills and experience.

Professional registration

In an increasingly competitive world, it is essential to stand out. Recognised by employers in all sectors and internationally, Professional Registration demonstrates your abilities, knowledge and experience. There are three levels to suit every stage of your career: Certification, Chartership and Fellowship.

Certification is suitable for

• people just starting out in their career;

• wanting to develop core skills;

• looking to develop in their work.

Chartership is suitable for

• people with a body of professional experience;

• with the opportunity to reflect on and recommend service improvements;

• who can be evaluative about their services.

(There is also a specific Knowledge Management Chartership)

Fellowship is suitable for

• people who have made a significant contribution to the profession;

• who can evidence substantial achievement in professional practice.

Accreditation

CILIP accredit Library and Information Courses around the world, helping prospective students choose the best course for them knowing that the institution offering the course has gone through the rigorous accreditation process.

All programmes are assessed using the Professional Knowledge and Skills Base (PKSB) tool which identifies the core knowledge and skills of the profession. The PKSB is a flexible and practical tool which has been designed to be straight forward and comprehensive in order to capture the many different types of skills and knowledge that are expected of a modern information professional. A CILIP-accredited academic programme is the best preparation for professional practice. Individual institutions will advise on entrance requirements, starting dates and the availability of places. Only currently accredited programmes are listed. Where programmes are near the end of the accreditation cycle, potential students are advised to check directly with the university department about their accreditation renewal.

Apprenticeship support

CILIP is supportive of new and more inclusive routes into a career in library, information and knowledge management and are involved in developing apprenticeships at all levels. They were part of the Trailblazer to develop the Level 3 Library and Archive Assistant Apprenticeship which is now in its second year of operation and proving very popular. They are also in the final stages of developing the end point assessment process of the Level 7 Archives and Records Manager apprenticeship and convene the Trailblazer for the Level 7 Library, Information and Knowledge Manager apprenticeship which is currently in development.

Apprentices who complete the level 3 Library and Archive Assistant qualification and are CILIP members can use their level 3 qualification to gain CILIP Certification to give them a head start for employability after their course.

Employer partners’ scheme

For all of those reading who head up a service or department wondering how CILIP can help your staff, they run an Employer Partners Scheme which is a cost-effective way to:

• develop your team;

• connect you to sector insights and to your peers;

• provide you with opportunities to help shape the sector.

There are three levels of membership.

Standard Plus, which includes webinars for all staff, discounts on CILIP conferences and training for all staff, two individual CILIP memberships, one place at the annual Employers Forum, badging, access to the PKSB and access to the PKSB Survey Tool for 10 staff and a 10% discount on recruitment advertising. It also includes a 10% discount on CILIP individual membership for all staff. Premium, which is tailored including five individual CILIP memberships, two places at the annual Employers Forum, recognition on the CILIP website and account management with an annual meeting. Like the Standard Plus Scheme, it includes webinars for all staff, discounts on CILIP training and conferences, organisational access to the PKSB and access to the PKSB Survey Tool for 50 staff and a 15% discount on recruitment advertising.

Value, this level provides many of the benefits of the Standard Plus Employer Partner Scheme. The key differences are as follows:

• It provides one CILIP individual membership.

• It does not include a 10% discount on CILIP individual membership for all your staff.

• It does not include a 10% discount on recruitment advertising.

• It does not include any badging.

• It does not include access to the PKSB Survey Tool.

• This level is suited to smaller organisations.

Connection to the profession

Membership of CILIP allows connection to a network of likeminded professionals to engage and share best practice with. There is something for everyone, with nine regional networks, twenty one special interest groups and three diversity networks.

Events

CILIP has a calendar of events which offer discounts to members such as Copyright Conference a unique opportunity for all librarians, archivists and information professionals to update their knowledge and professional practice in this crucial area. Additionally, it will appeal to those who want to update their general copyright, licensing and publishing knowledge.

The main CILIP Conference offers a unique opportunity to get together with library, information and knowledge management professionals to network, and hear about the latest in sector development. CILIP Conference 2023 is focused on the theme of Leadership and will bring together senior and aspiring leaders to discuss and explore ‘top of mind’ challenges and opportunities in the sector.

There is a webinar programme offered for members with subjects from money-saving tips to careers advice.

The Regional Networks and Special Interest Groups put on a plethora of events so there is always something of interest happening.

Training

CILIP offers discounts to training for its members and can offer bespoke training for organisations. In 2022 and throughout 2023, CILIP has provided a bespoke training programme for the staff of public library provider GLL. CILIP also works in partnership with Naomi Korn to provide Copyright training through the year.

CILIP was recently funded by Arts Council England to produce an online Digital Leadership training course for people working within public libraries to use for free: https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/digital-leadership-course.

There is an online learning hub for members to use with courses such as Stepping into Leadership, Leading Libraries, Impact Toolkit and Introduction to research skills, plus access to past webinars covering subjects of interest to all professionals in the sector.

CILIP and careers

CILIP has an offer for every stage of a career in library, information and knowledge management. From the start with support in choosing apprenticeships or university courses, to mid-career with the Professional Registration route, expanding networks and knowledge with the special interest groups and regional groups, to the retired workers group. CILIP is there to help with finding the next step/role with the Information Professionals jobs page, and this can also be used to advertise to advertise roles https://informationprofessionaljobs.com/.

Join CILIP

Join CILIP to access these benefits, for more information and to join visit the website https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/BecomeAMember.

For more information on the Employer Partners Scheme, please visit https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/EmployerPartner.

For general information about CILIP please visit https://www.cilip.org.uk/.

Footnotes

Declaration of conflicting interests

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Funding

The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Author biography

Claire Robe was recently Head of Sector Development at CILIP. She is a trained librarian and culture professional, with 15 years experience of working within libraries and cultural institutions. She has a particular interest in libraries their cultural role within society, and libraries being seen spaces for community and cultural interaction. She believes art and culture is for everyone, and should be easily accessible for all.