Supporting professional learning and development in an integrated Information Services Division

CILIP Career Development Group National Conference 2008

Supporting professional learning and development in an integrated Information Services DivisionLiz JollyAssociate Director (Services and Operations), Information Services Division, University of Salford& Chair, CILIP University College and Research Group

http://www.law.salford.ac.uk/building.php

28/04/08 CILIP Career Development Group National Conference

Outline• University of Salford and Information Services

Division• Supporting professional learning and

development at in ISD• Supporting professional learning and

development: broader issues– Concept of a profession– Future roles, skills and attributes– Framework of qualifications– Employer engagement


University of Salford • 1896 Salford Mechanics Institute• 1967 University of Salford• 1996 merger with University College Salford

(formerly Salford Technical College) • 16,000 FTE students and 2,500 staff.

• The University’s mission is to be an “enterprising university” by “achieving excellence in education for capability, research for the real world and partnership with the business and community”


Information Services Division (ISD)

• Integrated information, library and computing service

• ‘Converged’ services at Salford since 1988• ISD created 2002• Additional responsibilities 2006, 2008• ‘Information and Learning Services’ from

August 2008• Five Units


Information Services Division (ISD)

Current responsibilities include:• Library and information services (physical and virtual)

• Learning resources• Provision and maintenance of core network infrastructure• Delivery and development of corporate systems, hardware, software• Academic and administrative computing services including web, internet and

email services• Learning Development and Learning Technologies Centre/VLE• Telephony services (including voice over IP)• Audio visual media Services• Graphic design and print services• Service Desk (integrated library and IT helpdesk – physical and virtual)• Information governance


Supporting professional learning and development in ISD

Initial proposals (2005) 1• ISD should support professional

development/qualification of staff

• Supporting CILIP chartered membership a pilot

• Longer term support for range of professional qualifications reflecting ISD’s portfolio



Initial proposals (2005) 2• Learning contract

– Created with Personnel Division– Signed by line managers and candidates– Agreed time to be committed

• Two days of study leave per year



Initial proposals (2005) 3• ISD to meet the cost of CILIP

membership

• Job Descriptions to be amended for management posts – Chartered status or willingness to achieve within two

years an essential requirement



Offer to candidates• Membership fees paid for two years

• Fees for submission of portfolio

• Fees paid for attendance at NoWAL training programme

• Choice of mentors from the Division

• Monthly support meetings with other candidates



Expectations of candidates• Completion and submission of portfolio

within two years

• Choose a mentor from within ISD– Two way learning and development opportunity

• Sign a learning contract

• Attend NoWAL Standard professional training programme



Offer to mentors• Training as a mentor via CILIP

• Support for further training– CILIP, NoWAL, University

• Monthly Mentors Support Group Meetings

• A learning opportunity



Expectations of Mentors• Registration with CILIP

• Attend mentor training

• Attend other training as appropriate

• Consider Revalidation or Fellowship

• Support candidate through entire process



Timescales 1• Focus on hybrid professional 1996 -2004

• Development of proposals 2004 -5• Meeting of ISD Director with CILIP CEO June

2005• Meeting of ISD Director with Marion Huckle

August 2005• NoWAL Chartership event hosted at University

of Salford August 2005



Timescales 2• Approval by ISD SMT Sept.2005

• Approval by University Staff Development Committee December 2005

• Meeting with ISD staff January 2006

• Registration with Workforce Planning Manager (candidates) and Associate Director (mentors) March 2006

• Scheme implemented June 2006



Successes and benefits 1• Morale and motivation of candidates

• Mentor/Mentee relationship

• Monthly support group meetings

• Learning more about ISD



Successes and benefits 2• Increase in professional pride

• Development of reflective thinking

• Raising the profile of ISD and Salford

• Visible recognition of value of librarianship

• Kickstarting a change in culture



Issues and lessons • Administration

• Initial fears about mentor/mentee relationship

• Time

• Development as reflective practitioners



Current situation• 1 candidate gained chartership 2007• 4 others in process of submitting 2008• 2 additional candidates March 2007• ISD Support for CMALT (Chartered

Member Association of Learning Technology) commenced 2007

• 2 mentors gained CILIP Fellowship 2007• Support for ACLIP preparation 2008



Next steps

• Support for ACLIP June 208

• Review of pilot June 2008

• Support for IT professional qualification

• Support for Revalidation


Supporting professional learning and development

Concept of a profession 1

A Library and Information Professional…

“uses information in her/his job to advance the mission of the organisation…through the development, deployment and management of information resources and services…harnesses technology as a critical tool to accomplish goals”

(Special Libraries Association)



Concept of a profession 2• Includes…

– Skills– Knowledge and Experience– Values



Concept of a profession 3• Competency

– Professional and generic skills

• Commitment – To values and ethics

• Currency– Need to demonstrate this– Professional ethics around keeping up to date– Question of revalidation



Professional values: library and information work

– Stewardship– Service– Intellectual Freedom– Privacy– Rationalism– Commitment to literacy and learning– Equity of access– Democracy

Michael Gorman



Library and Information skills 1

• Practitioner skills– Mediation of information

– Sector specific• Knowledge management• Subject expertise• Information technology• Service development

Source: CILIP



Library and Information skills 2• Generic skills

– Management and leadership– Customer care– Communication and marketing– Project skills– Planning– ICT skills– Strategic thinking



Attributes and knowledge • Flexibility• Ability to work with others• Innovative• Risk tolerant• Knowledge of learning process• Awareness of technology• Awareness of data privacy and protection

issues• Understanding of organisational context• Vision



Future roles 1• From hybrid individual to hybrid team• Generalist• Specialist

• ‘Salad not Soup’ (Weaver and Roberts)

• All roles will have:– View of bigger picture– Capacity to embrace change



Future roles 2Will involve:• Practitioner skills

– Generic and sector specific – Being proud of them– Regularly updating

• Working across multiple environments• Seeing the big picture



Framework of qualifications • For whole profession

• ‘Registered Practitioner’– All levels– On CILIP Register– Proof of level of skills, knowledge and ethics– Commitment to keeping updated– Reflective practitioner

• Quality assurance for employers



Future paradigm?• Competency

• Currency

• Commitment

• Practice

• Reflection

• …Congruent practitioner



Employer Engagement 1• Salford experience

• Involvement of CILIP staff

• Importance of reaching decision makers– Director, Human Resources Specialist

• CILIP member as advocate

• Linking Framework to– Organisational objectives– Staff learning and development strategies



Employer Engagement 2• Few librarians managed by librarians

• Managers perceptions based on people

• Us as advocates for the profession

• Practice – not only advocacy– not status

• Involvement of CILIP branches and groups?



Employer Engagement 3

• Multi-professional teams

• Personal attributes• Generic skills• Professional practice

• Revalidation (compulsory)

• Engendering respect


Outline• University of Salford and Information Services

Division• Supporting professional learning and

development at in ISD• Supporting professional learning and

development: broader issues– Concept of a profession– Future roles, skills and attributes– Framework of qualifications– Employer engagement


A final thought• “In the twenty first century libraries and information

agencies require staff with innovative ideas and vision to create and sustain valued effective services to users, and to contribute to the success of the organisation”

• “Career long learning is therefore integral to professional success and individual processional development needs to be supported through a combination of education, personal development and work-based opportunities”

Biddy Fisher, Gillian Hallam and Helen Partridge


Liz Jolly

Associate Director (Services and Operations)

Information Services Division

University of Salford

Greater Manchester

M5 4WT

T: 0161 295 2319

E: [email protected]


Questions and discussion

Supporting professional learning and development in an integrated Information Services Division

Education

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