Presentation by CILIP CEO Nick Poole exploring the past, present and future of the UK's leading library association.

1. Farewell to Ridgmount Street!
Nick Poole, Chief Executive, CILIP
25th October 2022

2. Agenda
1. A brief history
2. CILIP today
3. A look to the future

3. Our nomadic past
• The Association first identified the need for permanent premises in 1888
• In 1980, the Association found its first home in Hanover Square, which we rented from 1890 – 1898
• We then occupied a series of rented premises – one shared with the Trade Union NALGO, another
with the Association of Special Libraries and Information Bureaux (Aslib)
• In 1933, the Carnegie UK Trust offered the Association a derelict property in what later became
Malet Street, London

4. The Library Association
occupied premises at
Chaucer House, Malet
Street for 33 years, from
1932 – 1965.
The building was
opened by Lord Irwin,
Deputising for Prime
Minister Stanley Baldwin
and was named Chaucer
House.

5. Chaucer House offered
Association Members
number of facilities
including offices, a
Members Room and a
Council Chamber
(pictured here).
Membership at the time
began to increase
significantly along with
engagement in
professional standards
and qualifications.

6. The Association moved
to a modern, purpose-
built facility in
Ridgmount Street in
1965.
The site was acquired
from UCL in exchange
for the building at
Chaucer House, having
previously been used (in
part) as a repository for
the British Library.

7. Ridgmount Street has
served as CILIP’s London
base since 1965 – a total
of 57 years.
During this time, it has
welcomed thousands of
librarians and
information
professionals, hosted
events, conferences and
meetings and provided
facilities for the staff.

8. In 2022, however, our
needs have changed.
Accelerated by the
pandemic, CILIP now
occupies less than 15%
of the total floorspace
and is landlord to 9
tenant organisations.
Much of our work is
now online, with staff
working remotely and
positive feedback from
members about our
new-found
decentralised role.

9. CILIP today
• CILIP continues to fulfil the mission and purpose of the Library Association, established under
Royal Charter:
“To work for the benefit of the public to promote education and knowledge through the
establishment and development of libraries and information services and to advance I
nformation science (being the science and practice of the collection, collation, evaluation and
organised dissemination of information)"
• We have come through the pandemic in good financial order, thanks largely to grants from the Arts
Council England and the support of our colleagues in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and our
Member Networks.
• We are delivering more than ever and with greater impact for our members thanks to an energetic
new team and a clear focus and sense of purpose for our work.

24. A clean slate
• Like many organisations, CILIP’s legacy Defined Benefit Pension Scheme has acquired a
significant deficit.
• At the same time, property values in the West End have been at an historic premium due
to the construction of Crossrail
• Acting on professional advice and in consultation with our Pension Trustees, the CILIP
Trustee Board has taken the decision to relocate the organisation to new premises, and
in the process to close the deficit on the Pension Scheme
• The aim is to secure a sale price sufficient to:
• Pay off the deficit and scheme liabilities
• Secure appropriate new premises in Central London
• Invest in our digital infrastructure
• Establish a long-term endowment fund for the Association

25. Our future premises
We are beginning the planning
and fundraising to establish a new
Centre for LIS Research and
Education, supporting CILIP’s
future ambitions to be a ‘place of
quality to advance the skills and
careers of library, information and
knowledge management
practitioners’
In the interim, pending the sale of
Ridgmount Street, we are
planning to move into interim
premises in the Knowledge
Quarter near Euston

26. Our future premises
Our aim is to create a modern,
digitally-connected space which
suits the future needs of the
Association.
A space for collaboration, public
talks, exhibitions, member
meetings and events in the heart
of London, complemented by a
digital learning space and (we
hope) facilities outside London for
training and CPD.

27. CILIP @ 125
2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the
granting of Royal Assent to CILIP’s Charter.
To celebrate, we will be delving into the CILIP
archive to celebrate 125 years of professional
librarianship, information and knowledge
management.
We’re also putting together an exciting
programme of training, CPD, support, community-
building and professional recognition for our
members.
Watch this space!