Online storm engulfs Cilip

Cilip has rebutted charges that it is irrelevant and poor value for money.

Members and ex-members have accused the professional association of failing to represent all sectors of the information industry and not listening to its members. In heated discussions online, particularly on the FreePint forums, calls have been growing for Cilip to sell its London headquarters and invest the proceeds in member services.

“I am in the commercial sector, and Cilip ’s gearing is towards the public sector,” said a corporate information professional. “My employer has no knowledge of Cilip, so there is no incentive for me as an employee to join.”

Fiona Palmar, an ex-member who works for Learning & Teaching Scotland ,believes Cilip membership is too costly. “In order for me to justify the cost to my employer, I would need to see relevant seminars more frequently, and preferably at a lower cost,” she told IWR.

“It seems to me that neither chartership nor LIS exams bestow common sense within a post – or a business outlook, which is increasingly necessary,” said Zena Woodley,library resources manager at the NHS Warner Library, and previously information manager at both Aslib and Cilip. “Why is this not being emphasised on courses?”

But information consultant Pat Money defended chartership. “It indicates that the member has completed the theoretical requirements,” she said, “but also that they have completed the necessary time in using that knowledge and the skills needed for the chosen occupation.”

Cilip chief executive Bob McKee told IWR that Cilip would be working on communicating the value of membership more effectively, particularly
to employers, and reviewing Cilip’s long-term sustainability. “We are looking at those issues in great detail and by the end of the year we will have a plan in place that will make a real difference,” he said ( click here for more Cilip stories).

In response to complaints from corporate information professionals, McKee said: “Let’s get more people from the commercial sector involved.  Get involved – it is as simple as that.”

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