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YES VOTE GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION UNIFICATION

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals to replace Library Association and Institute of Information Scientists

By an overwhelming majority, Library Association members gave the final go-ahead to unification with the Institute of Information Scientists at their AGM today.  The result means that CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals will take over the functions of both organisations from next April.

“This is a very significant day for the whole profession,” said LA President Bernard Naylor.  “It clears the last hurdle and allows us to create a body that is appropriate for the needs of a twenty-first century profession and can speak for all its members.”

Formal negotiations have been going on between the two bodies for nearly three years, in the recognition that the artificial split in professional representation was hindering efforts to lobby effectively and exert influence on the profession’s behalf.  “We have been working jointly with the IIS on things like accreditation of degree courses in library and information studies for several years,” commented LA Council Chair Martin Stone.  “Full unification was the logical next step.”

Although a few members continued to express some reservations, the decisive vote gave the clearest possible signal to the LA and its governing body.  “Inevitably there were some apprehensions,” acknowledged Barry Cropper, Chair of the LA’s Policy and Resources Committee, “But the doubters have had their say now and the will of the overwhelming majority has prevailed.”

An Implementation Working Group, made up of senior members of the two bodies, has spent nearly two years preparing the ground for the creation of the new organisation, and the Institute of Information Scientists voted in favour of unification last summer.  Now the LA vote will enable the IWG to complete all the legal and administrative processes in time for the formal launch of CILIP next April.  Further information on the unification process can be found on the LA’s Web site.

For further information contact:

Tim Owen, Head of External Relations, The Library Association.
Tel: 020 7255 0652.
E-mail: tim.owen@la-hq.org.uk

Notes to Editors

The Library Association is a leading professional body for librarians and information managers, with around 24,000 members who work in all sectors, including business and industry, further and higher education, schools, local and central government departments and agencies, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries.

Thursday 25 October 2001