Information Scotland

The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland

December 2003 Volume 1 (6)

Profile: Margaret Kean

Change from within

Margaret Kean describes her extensive work with professional bodies and explains why it is so important for the LIS community - and so good for your careers.

Margaret Kean has spent most of her career in children’s librarianship. This sector has seen enormous change since her first trainee job with Glasgow public libraries in 1971. But her work outside her job has been just as eventful as she has served for many years on CILIPS (previously the Scottish Library Association) committees and the CILIP Chartership Board.

Margaret has worked in a variety of posts in Renfrew County and in Strathclyde Regional Council Department of Education (SRCDE), Glasgow Division. She was promoted to Assistant Principal Educational Librarian in 1979, a time when there were only a few schools in Glasgow with librarians. “Services were being delivered in a very innovative way – Community Libraries in schools, pre-five resource centres, and multicultural resource centres – always considering how best to cope with the needs of multiple deprivation in the various housing schemes in Glasgow,” says Margaret.

The situation went from librarians in only four schools to librarians in all 55 schools. As Principal Resources Development Officer with SRCDE, Renfrew Division, she turned around a very traditional service to address the needs of school librarianship in the 1990s. At reorganisation in 1996 she provided a service across the three authorities of Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and East Renfrewshire

“During my career in school librarianship I have always been committed to ‘catching them young’ and getting them interested in the love of books and finding out.” says Margaret. Following a best value review of school and public library services, Margaret chose to make the move to Information Manager in the Chief Executive’s Department of Renfrewshire Council. She is now taking forward the Council’s information management strategy involving websites, Intranet, Community portal, conducting Council information audits, modernising government initiatives – and more.

Margaret believes extremely strongly that involvement in professional bodies has enriched her career: “My involvement with professional bodies keeps me abreast of developments and able to debate how services should be delivered in a corporate agenda. I feel that I have remained enthusiastic and have been able to support and encourage new workers – many of whom have gone on to become senior professionals. This work has given me the opportunity to be fully aware of best practice and have contacts throughout the country.”

She has been involved in CILIPS / SLA from very early in her career, joining the committee of the Youth Libraries Group, Scottish Branch, in the mid-1970s. Following this she was elected to the SLA in the early 1980s. “It was in discussion with Robert Craig (ex-Director of SLA/CILIPS) that I felt I needed to be involved with the profession to ensure that I did not become too narrowly focused. At my first meeting I was nominated as representative to the School Library Association in Scotland and held this post until 1997. It involved ensuring that the SLA point of view was always included in discussion and in all developments undertaken.”

She has also been vice chair and chair of the Library and Information Services (LIS) Committee. This has involved discussions on the restructuring of SLA council and chairing a working group on the development of performance indicators for central school library services.

Margaret believes just as strongly in professional development. Her work on the CILIP Chartership Board has given her great insight into the importance of this side of an individual’s working life. “Professional development is important. The world of work is changing continuously. If you don’t keep abreast of developments, new approaches and new skills there is the danger of losing interest in your job, and it becomes routine.”

Margaret has been involved with the Chartership Board since the 1980s, first as an assessor – interviewing candidates who had submitted reports which required clarification. “I was approached to join the board as full member in 1997 – this involves assessing reports continuously. Reports that are recommended not suitable for passing immediately are read by all board members and debated at meetings held in London every two months. This is very interesting work as it gives insight into all aspects of the profession and also the professionalism of our new members. It can be stressful; no one is failed lightly and it is a huge responsibility as it affects an individual’s future.”

Chartership work and professional development are central to Margaret’s day job as she has trained many new professionals and assisted them in the writing professional development reports. “I feel it a major achievement in having been able to give something back to the profession. A highlight for me was being given a Centenary Medal from the LA for services to the profession. This initially did not register,” she admits, “...but now on reflection it is a great honour and one that I will always cherish.”

Margaret is taking a back seat at last, but offers this last call to arms: “I think that it is you that make the profession and it is up to each individual to get involved. I am very sorry to leave it but feel that due to the direction my work has taken it is time to bow out.”

“The biggest issue in the profession is apathy, and the expectation that ‘someone else should be doing it...’ There is a lack of feeling that professionalism is important. More co-operation and sharing of best practice amongst the library and information community in Scotland is vital. It is always easier to change from within.”

Information Scotland Vol.1 (6) December 2003

Information Scotland is delivered online by the SAPIENS electronic publishing service based at the Centre for Digital Library Research. SLAINTE (Scottish libraries across the Internet) offers further information about librarianship and information management in Scotland.

Last updated: 16 February 2004