In counterpoint to my last blog post, and so I don’t leave the lasting impression that I’m some sort of curmudgeonly hyperindividualist…
I’ve recently joined CILIP, the ‘Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals’. It’s the professional body for librarians. I was a student member while I was doing my MSc, but I dropped my membership as soon as I graduated (i.e. as soon as I became liable for full members’ fees!), so I’m counting this as my first period of ‘proper’ membership.
Other people have given quite coherent accounts of why they’ve recently resigned their membership of CILIP, and as an organisation it does take a fair bit of flak from its current, ex-, and potential members. So why have I signed up, and why now?
- I couldn’t justify the membership cost a couple of years ago; now I can better afford it.
- The odd grumpy blog post aside, I’m quite a sociable sort, and I enjoy participating in groups of interesting people who share my interests.
- I now know (i/r/l or via Twitter) a few|of the|people involved in running CILIP. They’re good people. I’m sure there have always been good people involved in CILIP, but I didn’t know them then. See? Logic.
- And now when I don’t agree with how CILIP is run, I get a say in changing it for the better.
- I can save my employer some money on training courses, often discounted for members, which might mean I’ll get to go on more of them.
- It’s better to be inside the boat than outside, when it’s stormy (or ruder versions of the same proverb).
But did I join CILIP for the job alerts, magazine/newsletter, current awareness, networking opportunities, practical training, conferences, etc.? Probably not. I can have my needs met on the Internet for all of those things, more quickly and with less mess. So to speak.
And did I join for the opportunity to become professionally certified?
I… haven’t decided yet. Convince me.
