At CILIP North East, we're all about creating opportunities for members across the region to develop professionally and connect with others across the library and information sector. Here are five ways your membership can support your professional development:
1. Attend events held across the region and virtually
Every year CILIP North Easts host several events, both in
person and online, to give you the chance to meet others in the sector, hear
about other ways of working and experience areas of the sector you might not
already have come across. These range from library visits, to webinars, to
in-person talks.
A good example is our recent Sunderland Showcase at the University of Sunderland. People heard about The Big Talk
(an annual student survey that shapes library strategy), visited a Reading for
Wellbeing collection designed as a screen-free space, and learned how library
colleagues use Power BI and Python to turn data into useful insights that
support decision-making. Other events have included hearing about
Northumberland Archives’ centenary activities, and visiting the Kittiwake Trust
Multilingual Library in Gateshead.
These visits let you ask questions, see new spaces, and have
conversations with people doing interesting work across our diverse profession.
Our next visit is to the Poetry Library in Morpeth - take a look at our event page!
2. Apply for our professional development bursary
Did you know CILIP North East offers two bursaries to support your professional development?
The CILIP North East Member Network bursary is for CILIP members living, working or studying in the North East. This financial support can be used to attend training events, workshops, conferences, or anything which is CPD-related.
The Beyond the Horizon bursary is for non-CILIP members based in the North East. This bursary sponsors three places to attend our annual Beyond the Horizon event, a virtual conference showcasing work from.
The bursaries are there to help remove financial barriers,
so all members can access development opportunities regardless of their
circumstances. Visit the website for eligibility and how to apply!
3. Speak at Beyond the Horizon, our annual conference
Public speaking can feel daunting, but our annual Beyond the
Horizon conference (held virtually each Spring) is a genuinely welcoming space
to share your work.
We actively encourage first-time speakers and those from
underrepresented groups. You don't need a polished, completed project; we're
happy to hear about work in progress or even things that didn't go to plan! Often
the learning is in the journey rather than just the end result.
Our 2025
call for speakers can give you an idea of what we generally ask for each
year, and previous talks are available to watch on our YouTube channel, which
gives you a sense of the variety of topics we cover.
If you've been thinking "I'd like to try speaking but
I'm not sure I've got anything to say," this is the place to start. It can
build your confidence with public speaking, raise your profile, and support you
contribute something to the profession.
4. Join our committee and develop transferable skills
Joining the CILIP North East committee lets you build your
CV whilst making a real contribution to your regional library and information
community.
By joining our committee, you'll develop your event
planning, communication, promotion, and networking skills, getting hands-on
opportunities to coordinate committee meetings, organise library visits,
contribute to social media and our blog, and liaise with professionals across
the North East. It usually requires a few hours of commitment a month,
including attending a few meetings per year (all held virtually, bar our annual
planning meeting which takes place in-person).
We're a friendly group who support each other in balancing
committee work with our day jobs and life. We currently have a few committee
vacancies, so if you've been thinking about stepping up, we'd love to hear
from you! Do get in touch with any questions or for an informal chat.
CILIP North East membership offers practical ways to develop
your career and get involved in your local professional community. Whether it’s
coming to one event, receiving a bursary, or taking on a committee role,
there's something for everyone!
And if you're not yet a CILIP member, we'd be happy to have
you. If you already are, hopefully this has flagged up some opportunities worth
exploring.
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