Information Scotland The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland ISSN 1743-5471 Issue contents | Journal contents | About the online edition of the journal October 2007 Volume 5(5)

President's perspective

Reflect and apply the best

Christopher Phillips has learnt to take time to appreciate all the opportunities met on a journey..

It scarcely seems five minutes since I sat down in front of a blank screen to write my first ‘President’s Perspective’ column. Now the familiar blank screen (before which I have spent many hours gazing into the virtual distance waiting for inspiration) beckons again. There are still jobs to be done, events and three Branch AGMs to attend – more of that next time I expect. However it’s a good opportunity to take stock and reflect on what I’ve been doing and on some of the things I’ve learned.

If I were to characterise my year so far I’d have to refer to it as a journey – literally in that I’ve covered many thousands of miles travelling the length and breadth of Scotland and beyond, professionally in that I’ve had the privilege to see at first hand many different examples of thoughtful innovation and dedication which continue to challenge my own experience and thinking, and personally as I have made new friendships as well as deepening old ones. Indeed my conclusion so far is that without some way of reaching out beyond our boundaries it’s difficult to get a clear perspective on where we are and what we are doing.

During the year I’ve realised more than ever how important it is to have the opportunity to share thoughts and ideas with others. I’ve realised that it’s my responsibility to give other people the chance to talk and discuss and I’ve tried to make it a priority to get to meet as many of you as possible. Working in the Highlands can make this difficult given some of the distances involved but many of you work in even more remote places. In September I was especially lucky to go to the Shetland Islands. Silvija Crook from Shetland Islands Council arranged an exciting programme for me which gave me the opportunity to see a range of libraries as well as most points north, south east and west of the islands. I was impressed by the setting of the North Atlantic Fisheries College Library. I liked Shetland College Library – a really welcoming space in an otherwise impersonal building. I was glad to be able to look over the new Shetland Museum and Archive, just recently opened. I’m involved in the design of the Highland Archive and Registration Centre at the moment and it was helpful to see some of the good solutions. The Shetlands have done well for new facilities in recent years and the main library in Lerwick makes good use of the features of the converted church it occupies. I liked the way the space is already being adapted to meet changing needs and I commend the staff on their ability to see how things can be altered.

I’m used to lots of small libraries. In the Shetland Islands the pattern seems different, with users prepared to travel further to a central location. Even here though there are limits as I discovered one day when an early start from Lerwick followed by two ferry crossings brought us to the most northerly library in Britain at Baltasound. Here there is not only a well-stocked school library but also a small community library run in the main hall from fold-away bookshelves. Accountants would argue against such provision, but as always the difference that library makes to people’s lives has to be measured in different ways. It was a foggy day when we were there but I was reliably informed that the scenery is wonderful.

While I was there both the Film Festival and the Literary Festival were taking place. There was a good buzz-and the library staff were are busily involved. I particularly liked the Poetry Salon where you could retreat for a few moments’ peace to explore new poems or refresh with old. I returned home with many new insights and with a different perspective on library services to remote communities. I am really grateful to Silvija and her colleagues who all made me so welcome and gave up so much of their time.

While I was away in the Shetlands I was reading The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson in preparation for the Sutherlands Readers’ Day which I was at the next week. I came across this passage: “Elsie was the more outgoing, warm, carefree one. She could light up any room with her friendliness […] She was training to be a librarian but didn’t really have the patience for books. She dipped in and out of them, lost interest, started some thing else She preferred conversation to reading.” I’m not sure about the patience, but in my travels I have found that the best examples of service are where there is that personal engagement with customers. Our best colleagues do light up rooms with their friendliness.

I am enjoying my journey so far this year – and I am sure I will to the end. I am learning so much by having the opportunity to look wider than my own sector and geographical area. There are already opportunities there for everyone to do the same – Branches and Groups, showcase events, training events and so on. We need to take those opportunities and use what we learn to inform what we are doing. I am convinced that as a profession we need to create more opportunities to work together and learn from each other if we are to survive. We will only make a difference if we take the time to reflect on what we have seen or learned and apply it to our own context.

Rather like climbing a hill I know I need to stop, take breath and look around both to appreciate where I have come from and to have a look at the new lie of the land. (Of course there are days when you can’t see anything, just as when it was foggy at Herma Ness. Then you have to be prepared to go back and try again.) It’s all too easy to underestimate how far we’ve come and be so focused on a particular goal that we don’t see other opportunities that the subtle changes in the landscapes offer us. Once I used to be tired of never getting there. Now I am always excited to see what new possibilities are there for us to notice.

Information Scotland Vol. 5(5) October 2007

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