THE CONFERENCE
- a new shape for 2005

The programme for Umbrella 2005 (PDF, 65KB) took on an exciting new shape, reported Programme Director Bob Usherwood.  It has been organised around a number of key professional issues, and arranged on a cross-sectoral basis. 

To view each subject track during the conference timetable, please click here. 

As such, it reflected the new joined-up approach of CILIP and represents the new reality of an increasingly cross-domain library and information world.

Key issues for the conference are:

Keeping managing and marketing collections;

Evidence based practice and policy;

Your ethical and legal responsibilities

Information literacy

Staff and workforce development

Society and information;

User needs and;

Exteriors and Interiors

An additional strand titled 'specialisms and enthusiasms' provided dedicated sessions reflecting the unique interest of some individual groups.  In addition, international speakers had been booked for an exciting series of plenary sessions.

The key issues were identified and agreed through close consultation with CILIP's Special Interest Groups.  Many similar and/or related topics were suggested by different constituents, demonstrating that the things that unite CILIP are far greater than those that divide it.

In the planning process we tried to bring together similar topics in a single session to enable participants to examine and debate common issues from a variety of perspectives.  Many sessions were shared and organised on a co-operative basis.  Group members therefore had the opportunity to share and promote their enthusiasms and viewpoints with colleagues from across the professional spectrum.

This formula has practical, professional, philosophical, and pedagogical advantages.  It provided a forum whereby participants could inform each other so as to develop new ideas, and generate solutions to common problems.

Umbrella 2005's new shape has provided visitors with a unique opportunity to co-operate, create and debate.