MLA South East Internet - Professional Bodies

CILIP is the leading professional body for librarians, information specialists and knowledge managers, with up to 23,000 members working in all sectors, including business and industry, science and technology, further and higher education, schools, local and central government, the health service, the voluntary sector, national and public libraries. CILIP South East is the regional members branch of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. MLA South East currently sits on the CILIP SE committee which facilitates communication between the two organisations. The chair of CILIP SE is also currently a member of MLA South East’s board.There are many ways in which both organisations can support each other. Workforce Development is the current focus for activity.

The Museums Association (MA) looks after the interests of museums and galleries. It is independent of government and is funded by its membership. The MA provides information through its website, publications, annual conference and events, lobbies government and sets ethical standards department, and offers a comprehensive professional development programme for members wishing to further their careers in museums and galleries. The South East regional representative for the Museums Association, Ann McMath, sits on MLA South East's Museums Policy Advisory Group.

The National Council on Archives (NCA) brings together the major bodies and organisations, including service providers, users, depositors and policy makers, across the UK concerned with archives and their use. It aims to develop consensus on matters of mutual concern and provide an authoritative common voice for the archival community.

The Society of Archivists (SoA) exists to promote the care and preservation of archives and the better administration of archive repositories to advance the training of its members and to encourage relevant research and publication. A regular MLA South East agenda item is presented at the quarterly SOA South East meetings. SOASE is represented on MLA South East's Archive Policy Advisory Group. SOASE provides an important communication channel for MLA South East business to professional archivists and records managers in the region. MLA South East and SOASE also collaborate on training events.

The Society of Chief Librarians is a professional association made up of the Chief Librarians of each library authority in England and Wales. SCL aims to take a leading role in the development of public libraries by influencing statutory, financial and other decisions. The association represents the views of its members to DCMS, the Welsh Office, Members of Parliament, MLA, the Advisory Council on Libraries (ACL), the Library Association, the Local Government Association, the Audit Commission and other government departments and bodies. SCL South East is the regional branch of the Society of Chief Librarians which is an organisation which brings together all of the Heads of Library Services. The South East Branch meets four times a year and these are attended by MLA South East. MLA South East is also represented on the Executive team to help with programme planning. MLA South East has a close working relationship with SCL SE in order to move forward national, regional and local priorities. Close contact is also kept with sub-regional structures, for example Co-South, which covers Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

The South East University Librarians (SEUL) group aims to aid communication about regional topics including collaboration, co-operation and partnership initiatives, and to represent the views of the higher education libraries of the region to MLA South East, SCONUL and other appropriate organisations.

Professional Bodies

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