WIIFM? The LAI and You LAI Action Plan: Promoting Libraries, Supporting Members Philip Cohen, Vice President

Acknowledgements Thanks to past and present fellow Officers, Council and Committee members for their ongoing contribution and support Special thanks to Fionnuala Hanrahan for the solid achievements of the last two years and for laying the foundations for the next two Presidencies (at least)

Agenda Annual Report Action Plan Communications Strategy Open Forum

Annual Report: 2012

Stabilisation Consolidation Foundations for the future: – Review – Revise – Renew

Action Plan: Mission To promote and support high standards of librarianship and information management across all sectors in Ireland

2 Themes, 6 Areas, 16 Actions Promotion – Role, Advocacy, Collaboration, Access Support – Continuing Professional Development, Association matters

Promotion

Promotion [1] Role – To maintain the professional standing of library and information professionals Advocacy – To represent the interests of the Association and the profession to government, other organisations, the community and stakeholders generally

Promotion [2] Collaboration – To promote collaboration, cooperation and shared action at international, national and local levels (depending on topic) Access – To promote the free flow of information and ideas in the interest of all Irish people and a thriving culture, economy and democracy

Support

Continuing Professional Development – To support the career development of people engaged in LIS and to foster their professional interests and aspirations Association Matters – To encourage library and information professionals to contribute to the improvement of their services through support and membership of the Association

Key Considerations Regular review and revision: Are they the right focus and priorities? Very challenging – especially the completion date targets Implementation cannot be Officers, Council and Committees alone

Promotion: Role [1] Action 1: Clarify the core competencies common across the diversity of professional practice [Q3 2013] Action 2: Maintain a membership register of qualified library and information professionals [Q3 2013] Action 3: Maintain and regularly update reliable public information on the status of the profession and routes to qualification [Q3 2013]

Promotion: Role [2] Action 4: Continue to accredit appropriate courses leading to a professional qualification [Q2 2014] Action 5: Explore whether membership of the Association could be developed into a prerequisite for professional practice [TBC]

Promotion: Advocacy Action 6:Monitor the scale and penetration of library and information services, in all sectors, including the size of the employment pool [Q1 2014] Action 7:Use existing campaigns across all sectors (e.g. LIW, CBF) to explain and promote the contribution and value of library and information services [Q1 2014]

Promotion: Collaboration Action 8:Identify and actively seek opportunities for such collaboration [Q1 2014] Action 9:Identify and promote examples of best practice [Q1 2014] Promotion: Access Action 10: Identify and promote examples of best practice nationally and internationally [Q1 2014]

Support: CPD Action 11: Establish and apply an accreditation/certification mechanism for CPD [Q1 2014] Action 12: Develop and provide a mentoring support service for Library and Information professionals e.g. those unemployed or underemployed, transferring across sectors, fast-tracking for added managerial or technical skills [TBC]

Support: Association Matters [1] Action 13: Hold a membership drive: [i] lapsed [ii] new personal [iii] institutional [Q4 2013] Action 14: Develop and deliver a Communications Plan [Q3 2013]

Support: Association Matters [2] Action 15: Identify and promote mechanisms that facilitate routes to more engagement for members [Q3 2013] Action 16: Investigate opportunities for increased fundraising and income generation [Q4 2013]

Communications Strategy:

Objectives – Communicate the functions and work of the LAI to its stakeholders and to the wider community – Provide timely, accurate and appropriate information to its stakeholders

6 Areas, 13 Actions Consultation and collaboration Web and social media Publishing Members’ events Public events Media

Key Considerations Regular review and revision: Are they the right focus and priorities? Communications Plan to come – including completion date targets Implementation cannot be Officers, Council and Committees alone

Consultation and Collaboration Strengthen and maintain links with other library organisations internationally e.g. IFLA, EBLIDA Strengthen and maintain links with cognate bodies in Ireland Identify and implement a series of research projects that address membership needs and the role of the profession in society

Web and Social Media Identify the best mechanism to manage the Association’s website and social media presence on an ongoing basis Investigate and identify an appropriate professional social media mechanism (e.g. LinkedIn) to improve communication and networking for members Collaborate with the Website Task Force, in particular to create a Procedures document to ensure a reliable relevant web presence

Publishing Locate, record and digitise existing publications, with an initial focus on the most recent decade, for access via the Association’s website Improve the presentation of Leabharlann-e Members’ Events Develop a shared calendar of events Assist members in the innovative use of ICT to make material and expertise more accessible

Public Events Examine Library Ireland Week and other mechanisms to promote the potential of library and information services Media Produce a code of conduct for liaison with the media Develop a list of media contacts and establish a mechanism for effective maintenance of same

So … The association is its members We need your engagement – Both formulation and implementation Tell us what you need Help us get there Spread the word

Comments and Questions