Interviewing Nick Poole: a discussion about the IFLA Strategy
16 July 2020
In this video we discussed the IFLA Strategy with Nick Poole, the CEO of CILIP – the Library and Information Association, in the United Kingdom. The video was filmed in the Library of the Department of Work and Pensions, in London, at an event run by the IFLA Government Libraries Section. We hope he inspires you just like he inspired us.
Here is what he told us about the IFLA Strategy:
What stands out for you about the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024?
Nick Poole: I am a great fan of the IFLA Global Strategy, really for two reasons. I think what really stands out for me is the sense of optimism around our global community. The other thing I am really impressed by with the IFLA Strategy is that it’s focused on impact for information users. This isn’t really about us. It’s about the difference we make for all of those people who use our services.
What does the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024 mean for the global library field?
Nick Poole: I suppose what the IFLA Strategy means to me and for the global library field is that sense of unity. We have such a strong belief in common, in the power of equitable access to trusted information. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world. That’s what you are fighting for. That makes a huge difference to societies and nations, absolutely worldwide.
What difference will the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024 make for CILIP?
Nick Poole: So, what we’ve decided to do with the IFLA Strategy in the UK is use it as a framework for our next five-year strategy. So, we’ve looked at the global ambition and how we can connect to that. But, also we’ve gone through the detailed action lines and looked at how we can use IFLA’s ideas, the global library community’s ideas, to power our advocacy; power our support for the future for our fantastic workforce; but also how we help people who use our skills, employers or librarians, users of services to really understand and connect with why they need us today more than, I think, they ever have.
Read more about the IFLA Strategy 2019-2024
How is your library or library association engaging with the IFLA Strategy? Let us know! Post on your social media, using the hashtag #IFLAStrategy and #WeAreIFLA or send an email to Despina Gerasimidou, IFLA’s Strategic Development Officer at despina.gerasimidou@ifla.org.
