Championing the role of Information
Professionals in the future of Healthcare
Nick Poole, Chief Executive, CILIP
HLG Conference, Friday 16 September 2016

We believe...
In our complex, information-rich
modern world, every community,
enterprise, school, healthcare service -
essentially, everybody – needs access
to the skills and ethics of Library &
Information Professionals

Not because of what we do, but because of the difference we make...

The information opportunity – evidence-based policy

The information opportunity – behavioural insight & ‘nudge’
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-works-evidence-for-decision-makers

The information opportunity – information literacy
Source: https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/developing-digital-literacies

The information opportunity – open data
Source: http://www.cilip.org.uk/blog/opening-data-newcastle-libraries

• Technology has extended our reach, but not our grasp
• Scale of output has not been matched by capability
• People know they have the problem, but not that we (potentially) have solutions
• We may or may not see this as our role

Royal Charter:
“To work for the benefit of the public
to promote education and knowledge
through the establishment and
development of libraries and
information science (being the science
and practice of the collection, collation,
evaluation and organised
dissemination of information)”

2020 Goal:
We will put information & library skills
and professional values at the heart of
an equal, democratic and prosperous
society
Commitments:
• Show leadership
• Champion equality & diversity
• Unite & celebrate our profession
• Promote information literacy for all
• Deliver value for our members
• Lobby for better policy & legislation
• Challenge opposition constructively
• Keep adapting to changing needs
• Be positive and proactive

Information professionals are an embedded workforce
Consulting/independent information professionals Prison
Further Education/Colleges Public
Government and Armed Forces Research
Health Care School
Social Care Special Collections
Higher Education (including LIS teaching staff) Industry (Extraction)*
Law Industry (Manufacturing)**
Museums, Archives, Galleries and Heritage Industry (Commercial Services)***
National Libraries Not working****
Not for profit/3rd sector/Charity Other
* Any extraction industries, for example: Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, Mining, Quarrying
** Any Manufacturing industries, for example: Pharmaceutical, Aerospace, Automotive
*** Any commercial service industries: Business, Finance, Communications, Hospitality, Retail
**** Unemployed/Retired/Full-time Student/Career Break

59.4%
15.0%
5.5%
13.4%
6.7%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
Libraries Archives Records Information
management
Knowledge
management
Approximately 87,000 people work in the information profession
Source: http://www.cilip.org.uk/about/projects-reviews/workforce-mapping

No longer defined by job title
Information
Professionals
Additional roles
Allied professions
Information
Managers
Records
Managers
Information
Rights
Knowledge
Managers
Librarians
Information
Architects
Archivists
Data
Managers
Transparency
Information
Assurance
Information
Designers
Copyright
Specialists
Researchers
Analysts
Web
Managers
Information
Risk
Information
Technology
Project
Managers
Statisticians
Communications
Economists
Historians

Value of Trained LIK Workers research
Source: http://www.cilip.org.uk/about/projects-reviews/value-trained-information-professionals

If we want to make a positive difference...
...in the recognition and status of professional information and library
skills and ethics in the Healthcare sector, where do we start...?

Engage & learn
• HLG
• HEE LKS
• NHS England
• PHE
Understand drivers
• Health outcomes
• Cost savings
• Reduced variance
• Reduced risk
• Empowered users
• Improved evidence
• “Information to the
bedside”
• “Information to the
Boardroom”
Identify audience
• Parliamentarians
• Ministers
• Dept. of Health
• Arms-length bodies
• Health trusts
• Finance directors
Develop messages
• Common language
• Clear value
proposition
• Evidence of impact
• Compelling stories
• Clear ‘ask’
Secure engagement
• Libraries APPG
• Media & briefings
• Grassroots advocacy
• Direct meetings
• Influence policy
A joint campaign with Health Education England, building on Knowledge for
Healthcare to raise awareness and promote the value of qualified library &
information professionals in healthcare settings...

Long-term outcomes...
Senior Managers
understand how to
work with Information
Professionals to unlock
information, data &
insight & the value of
doing so
Information Professionals
are supported in delivering value as
an essential component of the
future of Healthcare & better able
to shout about it
Service users
are empowered to
develop their own
health literacy & take
ownership of health &
wellbeing
(Primarily focused on Library, Information and Knowledge specialists in healthcare
settings, rather than the health & wellbeing programmes in public libraries)

Supporting activities – Libraries Change Lives 2016
Copyright Norfolk Libraries

Supporting activities – Lobbying & advocacy
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31363949@N02/8783907904 Copyright (C) Leonard Bentley

Supporting activities – PKSB for Health

Supporting activities – Online PKSB

Supporting activities – UK Information Skills Strategy

We believe...
The future of the Healthcare sector
depends in part on harnessing the
skills and ethics of Library and
Information professionals to deliver
services that are smart, sustainable
and future-proof.

What next...
Working with Knowledge for Healthcare, we are developing an identity,
resources, a ‘hub’ for the campaign, supporting evidence and case
studies.
We need your help to shape the outcomes and focus of the campaign, and
then to pick up the banner & take it to your networks, employers and
stakeholders.

We need you to...
• Support our lobbying and advocacy to key national stakeholders
• Take the materials & speak to your stakeholders
• Sell the value and impact of your skills for your organisation to
demonstrate the case for support
• Tell us about your activities & share your good news stories

Thank you
Nick Poole, CILIP
@NickPoole1
nick.poole@cilip.org.uk
http://www.cilip.org.uk/health