Welcome to the very first CILIP Scotland Podcast takeover, featuring the CILIPS Students and New Professionals Community! Taking the reins in the podcast studio for the first time, Chaeli, Matthew and Filipa were keen to share with the audience their reflections on starting their professional career in the Library and Information sector post-graduation.

Defacto host for the episode Chaeli Brown is currently an Information Scientist at ThinkAnalytics. Matthew Ferrie has entered into his first role as Information Assistant at the Craiglockhart Library at Edinburgh Napier University. Both Matthew and Chaeli are Events Coordinators for the SNPC, having ran events such as an interview tips event with Falkirk Libraries, and library tour with Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons and Glasgow Women’s Library alongside the CILIPS Local Studies group LocScot. Filipa Pedroso is currently spending her time post-graduation in School Libraries as a Graduate Library Assistant in London. She is the former Social Media Coordinator for SNPC.

All three are experiencing very different fields of library work, and in this conversation they bring out the parallels of their work (namely frustration with printers), and how they’ve translated the skills and knowledge gathered through their degrees to practical applications and people skills.

If you’d like to find out more about SNPC, you can find them on Instagram: @cilips_snpc Twitter/X: @CILIPS_SNPC, or by emailing: snpc@cilips.org.uk. Thank you to Chaeli, Matthew and Filipa for their contribution to the episode!

Thanks for tuning in! If you'd like to get in touch to be a guest, or to suggest a topic for the team to discuss, please email admin@cilips.org.uk.

Give us a follow on our socials too!

Instagram: @cilip_scotland

Twitter/X: @CILIPScotland

Website: www.cilips.org.uk

Part two of Scotland’s Library Advocacy Story continues on CILIP Scotland's journey to mobilise and support librarians, information professionals and the communities they serve to best advocate for their vital library services.

We began by introducing the Save Aberdeen Library Campaigners behind the fight to save six libraries and a swimming pool from closure in 2023. Laurie Anne Mackay and Hayden Lorimer began by introducing themselves and how they became involved in the campaign in Aberdeen, so go back and listen to part one if you haven’t already!

Another key character in this story is Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor and Solicitor Advocate at Glasgow’s Govan Law Centre. In the previous episode, Mike shared his love of libraries and why he feels it’s important that legal protections come into play to support libraries to thrive as crucial community infrastructure. He began to tell us how he became involved with the Save Aberdeen Libraries Campaign, and clearly outlines the legal framework that can support communities and campaigners in their efforts.

With many thanks to Hayden, Laurie and Mike, as well as those involved in the Save Aberdeen Libraries Campaign and Govan Law Centre.

Don’t forget to subscribe!

Thanks for tuning in! If you'd like to get in touch to be a guest, or to suggest a topic for the team to discuss, please email admin@cilips.org.uk.

Follow on our socials too, where you can find updates, petitions and advocacy support for Scotland’s Libraries:

Instagram: @cilip_scotland

X: @CILIPScotland

Website: www.cilips.org.uk

Govan Law Centre X: @GovanLawCentre

Govan Law Centre Website: https://govanlawcentre.org/

Save Aberdeen Libraries X: @SaveAbdnLibs

Save Aberdeen Libraries Instagram: @SaveAbdnLibs

Please note opinions stated by guest contributors may not reflect the view of CILIPS or CILIP.

Music: bensound.com

Licence Code: I6WYHE4KDTMLHQ8R

In 2024 alone, Scotland's public libraries have been considered low hanging fruit for cuts and closures in too many local authority budgets. It has become essential that librarians and communities are empowered and given a solid foundation to advocate for their vital and vibrant library services.

In part one of Scotland's Library Advocacy Story, the CILIP Scotland team outlined the funding landscape for Scotland's public libraries, deepening understanding of how the current funding model is proving increasingly insufficient to deliver all that libraries and their communities deserve.

Taking the incredibly powerful Save Aberdeen Libraries Campaign as a case study for how community groups can be mobilised to research, advocate and champion libraries when faced with closures, we interviewed Hayden Lorimer and Laurie Anne Mackay from the campaign group. What resulted was an incredibly thorough overview of each step, including their reflections and recommendations for future campaigners. We also spoke to Mike Dailly, Principal Solicitor and Solicitor Advocate at Glasgow's Govan Law Centre. Mike has a long history of social justice work and assisted campaigners in this case to levy legal battles against Aberdeen City Council. As a library lover himself, Mike was keen to add his voice to this project and outline the legal frameworks at play, and what communities can do to support community spaces.

There was so much to uncover and hear from our three contributors that we had to split this podcast into two parts! Scotland’s Library Advocacy Story Part Two is live now!

Don’t forget to Subscribe!

Thanks for tuning in! If you'd like to get in touch to be a guest, or to suggest a topic for the team to discuss, please email admin@cilips.org.uk.

Follow us on our socials too, where you can find updates, petitions and advocacy support for Scotland’s Libraries:

Instagram: @cilip_scotland

X: @CILIPScotland

Website: www.cilips.org.uk

Govan Law Centre X: @GovanLawCentre

Govan Law Centre Website: https://govanlawcentre.org/

Save Aberdeen Libraries X: @SaveAbdnLibs

Save Aberdeen Libraries Instagram: @SaveAbdnLibs

Please note opinions stated by guest contributors may not reflect the view of CILIPS or CILIP.

Music: bensound.com

Licence Code: I6WYHE4KDTMLHQ8R