SCL and CILIP partner on ‘ethical guidelines’ following Home Office deal

Thursday, 14 June 2018 Books+Publishing

The UK’s Society of Chief Librarians (SCL) has agreed to partner with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) to develop an ethical framework for commercial partnerships, following a backlash after a controversial deal with the UK Home Office, reports the Bookseller.

The SCL recently secured a contract with the Home Office’s (HO) visas and immigration division that would see 56 UK libraries delivering biometric visa support services. But the contract was widely condemned, with 80 librarians signing an open letter protesting it, arguing that the ‘creeping normalisation and increased presence of HO divisions in public libraries … will actively work against the creation of an inclusive and diverse public library service’.

CILIP said several parties had expressed concerns about the new contract. Among them was the worry that associating public libraries with visa and immigration processing could damage the perceived neutrality and trust in public libraries. ‘In CILIP’s view, there is a risk that by associating UK public libraries with visa and immigration services, particularly at a time of heightened public concern, this may cause reputational issues for the sector as a whole’, said the body.

To address these, CILIP and SCL will partner to develop a guide on commercial partnerships, including guidelines on ethics-based decision-making and negotiation. The guidelines will also establish an ongoing dialogue between the two organisations about future contracts.

SCL chief executive Isobel Hunter said it had been ‘really fruitful’ to discuss the issue with CILIP, adding ‘we are pleased that we now intend to work together to develop a shared set of commercial principles to guide future work’.

Category: Library news International