Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals

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The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) is a professional body representing librarians and other information professionals in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 2002 by the merger of the Library Association - founded in 1877 and awarded a Royal Charter in 1898 - and the Institute of Information Scientists - founded in 1958. Membership is not compulsory for practice, but members can work towards chartership which entitles them to the postnominal letters MCLIP and subsequently FCLIP (sic). Affiliated members can also obtain ACLIP upon completing certification. Honorary Fellowship - akin to an honorary degree- (HonFCLIP or FCLIP(hc)) is granted to a small number of people who have rendered distinguished service to the profession.

CILIP accredits degree programmes in library and information science at universities in the UK, including City University, London, Loughborough University, the Manchester Metropolitan University, the Robert Gordon University, the University of Sheffield and University College London.

CILIP is perhaps best known to the general public for awarding the Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals for children's books.

CILIP publishes a monthly magazine, Library & Information Update, and a fortnightly newsletter, Library & Information Gazette, including listings of job vacancies. It also runs a recruitment agency, INFOmatch and a publishing imprint: Facet Publishing. There are several local branches across the United Kingdom, 28 special interest groups and over 20 organisations in liaison including such bodies as the African Caribbean Library Association, the Librarians' Christian Fellowship and the Society of Indexers.

CILIP hosts a conference every two years called Umbrella.

Selected Special Interest Groups


Role in LIS education

CILIP’s policy is to improve all aspects of professional practice through its work in education, maintaining a framework of universally recognised qualifications and providing a wide range of opportunities for CPD. In 2002 CILIP undertook a review of its qualifications framework. The new Framework of Qualifications was launched in April 2005. It is designed to be flexible and adaptable, as the areas will evolve and develop over time to accommodate changing needs. It is appropriate to library and information professionals across the sector as a whole. As such it has a degree of overlap with the knowledge base of other professions.[1]

The framework consists of four levels – certification, chartership, revalidation and fellowship. Certification provides recognition from the association for library and information work by para-professionals. Those who gain admittance to the Register of Certified Members are entitled to work towards Chartered Membership.[2] There are two categories of applicant for Chartership: firstly para-professionals with over five years experience; secondly those who have some evidence of training and have been working for two years.[3]


Chartership is CILIP's standard for information professionals. Chartered members are entitled to use post nominal letters and describe themselves as qualified library and information professionals. All candidates for Chartership must work with a Mentor and demonstrate through their portfolio that they meet the required criteria.[4] Chartership is not an academic qualification but a recognition of the highest standards of professional practice. The individual makes a commitment to continued professional development. Normally applicants will have completed a degree in LIS and have been working for at least one year.[5]


External links

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  1. ^ Watson, Margaret; ‘Professional qualifications: a CILIP perspective’ in AIDAinformazioni; Vol. 23 No. 4, (2005), p.25
  2. ^ Chapman, Margaret; ‘CILIP qualifications and you’; in Legal Information Management, 6 (2006), pp.264-5
  3. ^ Watson, Margaret; ‘Professional qualifications: a CILIP perspective’ in AIDAinformazioni; Vol. 23 No. 4, (2005), p.26
  4. ^ Chapman, Margaret; ‘CILIP qualifications and you’; in Legal Information Management, 6 (2006), p.265
  5. ^ Watson, Margaret; ‘Professional qualifications: a CILIP perspective’ in AIDAinformazioni; Vol. 23 No. 4, (2005), p.26
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