Thanks to the brilliance and warmth of the staff of library & knowledge services, these play a vital role, helping people, organisations & communities thrive, whatever the weather. Being President of @cilip.bsky.social has been a delight. Now handing the baton to Carryl Allardice for 2026. Enjoy!

Excellent piece on the continuing value of libraries from Martha Gill in @theobserveruk.bsky.social - pleased to be quoted in it. observer.co.uk/news/opinion...

Thrilled to be invited to be the Keynote Speaker on Day 1 of #LILAC2026, the Information Literacy Conference, 30/03 - 1/04. An opportunity to examine health literacy as one dimension of the broader range of information literacies. @cilip.bsky.social Register here: www.lilacconference.com/register

Congratulations to all those in the New Year Honours List 2026, including some impressive library sector people such as John Vincent and Bobby Seagull

Many congratulations @bobbyseagull.bsky.social on being appointed an #MBE for your work campaigning for public libraries to be better supported, valuing the ways #LibrariesChangeLives. Great news. So well deserved. THANK YOU for your advocacy. @cilip.bsky.social @readingagency.bsky.social

"Responsibility for libraries is ambiguous." True that! Helpful article & suggestion @theobserveruk.bsky.social. I worry that central Govt. overlooks that librarians are vital in All sectors: Business, Education & NHS as well as Public Libraries. observer.co.uk/news/opinion... @cilip.bsky.social

Season's Greetings to all our #CILIP members and champions. We wish you a well-deserved break, and we'll see you in 2026 for another jam-packed year including the launch of our new five year strategy. We'll be back online from Monday 5 January and the first newsletter will be on Weds 14 January.

"When I discovered libraries, it was like having Christmas every day". (Jean Fritz) So it's the season to celebrate the beacon of light that library and knowledge teams shine in every sector in which they work. See my article in @cilip.bsky.social #InformationProfessional tinyurl.com/3cabn965

🎄We would like to wish you Season's Greetings on Day 12 of #12DaysOfCILIP and we’ll see you in the New Year when we will be launching 'Empowering Impact', our new five-year strategy.

"When health librarians step into the light, everyone in health service benefits, especially patients." 'Light a Big Fire', a terric call to action in this guest blog by Bennery Rickard @hselive.bsky.social. I've been called many things; I'm honoured by this mention www.libfocus.com/2025/12/hse-...

In Spring and in Winter, libraries are 'A light in the community'. Shine on! Click on your @cilip.bsky.social App to tuck into the latest digital #InformationProfessional. Sharing observations through the year, this is the last of my columns written as President. www.cilip.org.uk/page/infopro

What's in a Name? I recall the 1st letters arriving from new-traced American Aunts in the 60s. Each combined her own & her husband's surname. It was groundbreaking. Never occurred to me to do anything different. Now my grandchild has been given my original surname. daily.jstor.org/marriage-and...

Tough times? CILIP Benevolent Fund, an independent charity, helps current and former members of @CILIP.bsky.social, The LA & IIS, and their families, who are struggling with the cost of living or facing unexpected hardship causing anxiety (to a maximum of £3K). www.cilip.org.uk/general/cust...

Did you know that #CILIP membership gives you access to a free legal helpline and confidential access to our Benevolent Fund set up to help CILIP members and their families through financial difficulties? Both ready to help in times of need. more info👇 cilip.org.uk/page/MemberB...

🎁On the 1st day of #12DaysOfCILIP save on key professional texts from Facet Publishing to grow your knowledge and build your personal or workplace library for 2026. Browse the 2026 new releases catalogue. https://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/

🎁On Day 2 of #12DaysOfCILIP we send you Professional Registration (Certification, Chartership, Fellowship, revalidation & specialised KM Chartership and Fellowship) - the gold standard to strengthen your CV & career. Set goals and take charge of your CPD: https://ow.ly/8bw850XGY1w

🎁Day 3 of #12DaysOfCILIP presents New Skills for Future Leaders - training that aims to create a new generation of leaders in public libraries in England, helping them to influence strategic decisions. Sign up for the course and look to the future: https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/futurelibraryleader#12DaysOfCILIP

🎁Day 4 of #12DaysOfCILIP The Professional Compass. Our Professional Knowledge & Skills Base (PKSB, KM) is your essential tool for planning & evidencing professional development. Map your strengths, identify skill gaps. Start your skills assessment now! https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/PKSB

🎁 On Day 5 of #12DaysOfCILIP access the latest LIS research and sector insight with your #CILIP membership. Free access to abstracts and full-text articles from journals including Sage and ProQuest. Stay ahead with key themes and important publications. https://ow.ly/SHyQ50XJCK7#12DaysOfCILIP#CILIP

Exciting news! CILIP is an official partner of The National Year of Reading 2026. The CILIP School Libraries Group will share events, booklists, resources & blogs to celebrate reading. More details coming in the new year! #NationalYearOfReading #SchoolLibraries #ReadingForAll @cilip.bsky.social

🎁 Unwrap the #CILIP Knowledge Network on Day 6 of #12DaysOfCILIP. Join one of 20+ Special Interest Groups to connect, share expertise and collaborate with peers in your sector or area of interest, from Metadata, Health K&IM and beyond. Find your new SIG: https://ow.ly/x8ZY50XJGAA#CILIP#12DaysOfCILIP

The value that libraries deliver is multidimensional. Through 2026 I have been highlighting studies from different sectors that that show the value librarians and knowledge specialists deliver. @cilip.bsky.social Information professional, Winter 2025 p14 tinyurl.com/3cabn965

Few myths irk me more than people saying no-one uses libraries anymore. Approaching the end of my year as President of @cilip.bsky.social, it's with joy that I share data from @librariesconnected.bsky.social. Loans up 14%, Digital borrowing up, Non-fiction up, Library visits up. tinyurl.com/29yrzywh

Delighted to welcome the Libraries Minister, Baronness Fiona Twycross (DCMS) to visit us @bodleian.ox.ac.uk and meet members of the #LibrariesAlliance, bringing together the sector bodies & national libraries to advocate for libraries!

A Westminster Hall debate on the literary and cultural legacy of Jane Austen will take place on Thursday 18 December. The debate was scheduled by the Backbench Business Committee and will be led by Luke Murphy commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-bri...

Not "Once and done"! Low health literacy impacts on health outcomes. Explored ways to make a difference as a health & digital literacy partnership today. Tx four partners: @cilip.bsky.social, NHSApp, ArtsCouncil England, national Knowledge & Library Services team @nhsengland.bsky.social

Do I know any non NHS library people who manage EBSCO Discovery Service? Looking for someone to try something for me. Or does anyone know an EDS instance with guest access open? 📚 #medlibs

Investing in a stable climate, healthy nature and land, and a pollution-free planet can deliver trillions in additional global GDP, avoid millions of deaths and lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and hunger. @UNEP www.unep.org/events/publi...

Such a pleasure to visit the @roysocmed.bsky.social Library today meeting the Dean and some of the team. Really interesting to hear about their work and see researchers working around the library. Extra special, as this was my last library visit as President of @cilip.bsky.social for 2025.

Are you working in medicine, #law, #finance, #Research, or another sector, focussed on #KM - knowledge management & #Mb knowledge mobilisation? You can demonstrate your expertise in the field by becoming a Chartered Knowledge Manager or a Fellow of @cilip.bsky.social share.google/2Sckts4YFxep...

Spectacular anatomical atlases, landmark works in the history of medicine, irreplaceable manuscripts and rare early photographs from the Royal Society of Medicine’s collection are being auctioned at Christie’s London this month. Phillip Prodger explains why these items are too important to be sold

With a grandchild in the house, I've good reason to be ever more interested in the Youth Libraries Group newsletter. It's where you can find all the publishers' news, offers & exciting titles to look out for. Just one of the many reasons to join @cilip.bsky.social #YLG share.google/Z6iOwHAm2GNt...

How are we fostering more inclusivity in the profession & service? Join CILIP Disability Network with Louis Coiffait-Gunn & Sue Lacey Bryant to celebrate the achievements of our deaf, disabled & neurodivergent colleagues. #IDPwD Online - TODAY 3- 5.15pm. https://ow.ly/T96G50XCCVb#IDPwD

We are very excited to announce the #LILAC26 Keynote Speakers will be Sue Lacey Bryant @suelacey-bryant.bsky.social, Shelia Webber and Matteo Bergamini. Find out more on the LILAC website ⬇️

Great culture can save lives. Literally. Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

From the Washington Post: All library grants reinstated at Institute of Museum and Library Services. Read more about the great news: www.washingtonpost.com/style/2025/1... But the fight isn't over. We need to tell Congress to #FundLibraries: app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag... #ForOurLibraries

Just caught up with the excellent episode of BBC Radio4's Start the week, this one featuring @naomialderman.bsky.social on her new book 'Dont burn anyone at the stake today' & Cory Doctorow, on his 'Enshittification' - wonderfully hosted by @tds153.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Or a library

The most prestigious international event in the calendar of library and information professionals is coming home to London in 2027. As President of @cilip.bsky.social I am delighted to share the news of @ifla.org World Library and Information Congress. www.stationers.org/news/industr...

I like to celebrate #Thanksgiving. It's a nod to my late Dad who once stood in the wings watching his father on stage in New York. And with thanks to @nypl.bsky.social who turned round my enquiry about my grandfather within a day, sharing this. Librarians everywhere are amazing. @cilip.bsky.social

Looking forward to today's @cilip.bsky.social Board meeting. I'm ever impressed by the commitment of volunteers in every sector & Group who come together, with our core CILIP team, to support fellow library & information professionals, working together in the best interests of the public. Thank you.

Great to see #Budget25 include £1,447 for each secondary school in England to buy books, expert librarians can help ensure the investment is best spent assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6926eb...

En route to Manchester Metropolitan University to talk with the PG students studying Library & Information Management. Talking the future of health library and Knowledge services today - business critical to an NHS founded on principles of evidence based practice. Looking forward to the session.

One thing I've learned this year as President of @cilip.bsky.social is that libraries and librarians are here for us at all times through our lives. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness". A Tale of Two Cities. 26/11/18

CILIP #MembersFest programme is live! March 2026 jam-packed with online sessions and in-person networking events to showcase the best of what CILIP has to offer. Co-created by CILIP and our amazing member networks. Check out the highlights & register: https://www.cilip.org.uk/page/MembersFest26

For a summary of some of what CILIP's done to advocate for school librarians since the General Election last year, see the latest CILIP School Libraries Group journal www.cilip.org.uk/page/school-...

It is a privilege to be quoted in Bob Gann's obituary in The Information Professional from @cilip.bsky.social, Winter 2025. Thank you for bringing this together @ruthcarlyle.bsky.social. Bob - you left a truly remarkable legacy. Thank you. Rest now.

Vaccines & autism: CDC changes stance instructed by RFK. American PH experts, doctors & scientists have decried this as #Misinformation which CDC has been fighting for years while promoting lifesaving childhood vaccination @theguardian.com @cilip.bsky.social #Evidence share.google/ClyGsWSBgMuy...

Missed the webinar on Modernizing Evidence Pipelines for Health Economics & Outcomes Research, & Regulatory Teams? I was pleased to join [email protected] webinar, talking about trust & transparency in the evidence pipeline. @alon-agai.bsky.social @cilip.bsky.social tinyurl.com/2prnsmwd

How shall we count the ways in which libraries make a difference? My article in #InformationProfessional, Winter 2025. p14, brings together the findings of key studies on the beneficial impacts of public libraries on #Opportunities #Growth #Society @cilip.bsky.social @librariesconnected.bsky.social