Equalities & Diversity Action Plan CILIP, July 2017

Background In 2013, CILIP organised an ‘Equalities Summit’ to review our position on Equality & Diversity & recommend further action. Key recommendations included a comprehensive Workforce Mapping Survey, completed in 2015.

Workforce Mapping Survey data Data shows that the profession has: An ageing workforce A clear gender pay gap A lack of ethnic diversity A high barrier to entry To address these problems, CILIP has committed to creating, implementing, monitoring and improving an Equalities and Diversity Action Plan

3 priorities in the Equalities and Diversity Action Plan: CILIP as an exemplar of best practice As the UK’s information and library association, we will challenge ourselves to become an exemplar of best practice in equalities and diversity Promoting positive change in today’s profession We will work with partners and the profession to identify, challenge and overcome today’s structural and systemic barriers to diversity, inclusion and equality Building an open and inclusive profession for the future We take positive action to deliver an open, inclusive and diverse workforce for the future

Priority 1: CILIP as an exemplar of best practice Employer Service provider Registered Charity Physical location Purchaser Policy body CILIP’s commitment to equalities and diversity is guided by: Our legal obligations as a registered Legal Entity, a Charity, an employer and a venue Our ethical obligations as the UK’s library and information association

Priority 2: Promoting positive change in today’s profession As the professional association for the information & library sector, CILIP has set 5 core Goals through which we will address current challenges to equality and diversity in our profession: Goal 1 A diverse and inclusive CILIP membership Goal 2 Diversity and equality as core values of CILIP members Goal 3 Diversity and equality as core values of the profession Goal 4 A diverse and inclusive information and library profession Goal 5 Promoting diverse and inclusive library and information services

Priority 3: Building an open, inclusive profession for the future In order to continue to deliver excellent, relevant services to their users, libraries and information services need access to a diverse pool of talent. We will focus on 3 linked longer-term priorities: Awareness – we will work in partnership with other sector and non-sector organisations to raise public awareness of the nature of library and information work, the skills required and the career opportunities available. Perceptions – we need to ensure that a career in the information and library profession is regarded as rewarding, aspirational and creating opportunities for future employment and progression. Talent – we need to ensure that a career as an information professional is accessible to the widest possible pool of talented people. This means opening up non-academic pathways to the profession, for example through vocational training, experience or apprenticeship.

The Action Plan The Action Plan sets out our actions in five areas: CILIP as an organisation Diversity and the membership Diversity and the profession Celebrating diversity Diverse and inclusive library and information services

Timeline for the Action Plan Quick wins: Will allow us to make positive progress toward our overall goal of becoming an organisation that celebrates and reinforces equality, diversity and inclusion. Longer term-goals: At the same time, we believe that some of the issues we have identified are more embedded and structural and will require commitment to longer term-goals and actions.

Find out more www.cilip.org.uk/equalities Diversity by Thomas Hawk on Flickr