Building Your Portfolio: The CILIP Guide

Citation

Bell, V. (2011), "Building Your Portfolio: The CILIP Guide", Library Management, Vol. 32 No. 4/5, pp. 371-373. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435121111132356

When asked the question “what professional development (PD) are you undertaking?” how easy is it to answer? We read journals when they come our way; we attend an annual conference, even the occasional workshop. Some of us read blogs, mentor others, and even find time to undertake peer reviewing or other additional duties not on our job description.

Sooner rather than later we realise the need to track these activities in a meaningful way. This enables us to stay on track professionally, and make any changes or adjustments to how we work. One form of recording and making sense of our professional lives is known as a portfolio, and PD is only one component. Just as models, architects, photographers and others have portfolios, so it is becoming accepted practice for library and information professionals to have one too.

Building Your Portfolio: The CILIP Guide by Margaret Watson describes the components of the portfolio required by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) in the UK. As a Past President of CILIP and the Chair of the Framework of Qualifications Steering Group from 2003 to 2005, Watson knows what she is talking about. Her book is designed to be used in conjunction with the CILIP Framework of Qualifications for Librarians which are described in the first chapter.

As stated in the introduction, the purpose of this book is to provide answers, and to share the experiences, hints and tips from library professionals who have successfully used their portfolios to gain recognised qualifications. This is achieved through the inclusion of case studies, tables, examples, web links and references. You can begin reading from the beginning and worked through each chapter in turn, or by focusing on individual chapters, depending on the outcome you want.

One of the first chapters discusses the CILIP assessment criteria for the various qualification levels. It supports the information provided on the CILIP web site and goes further by providing examples, and explanations of the relevance of these criteria. The portfolio process is outlined again, and readers are reminded of additional resources available within CILIP.

Chapter 3 discusses the concept of reflective writing. This is one of the most valuable chapters, essential reading for the creation of any professional portfolio, for CILIP or for one's own personal development. As the author says “It is not sufficient to just have an experience; you need to reflect on that experience and evaluate it, and then apply that knowledge to another experience or activity” (p. 22) Watson introduces the “so what” test – what have we learned from an activity, and what are we going to do as a result. She introduces the concept of a learning log and provides useful hints and tips in a succinct format. This is supplemented with a case study describing another persons' approach to reflective writing.

While the chapter on CV creation provides no new insights, it is important to have the key points detailed. It clearly places the role of the CV in context of the portfolio, removing any doubt that they are the same. No proscriptive format is described, but the experiences, questions and thoughts are shared to illustrate the concerns one has when creating a CV – there is no room for false modesty.

The chapter on planning your PD is well worth time and attention. The key message is that PD is not something that just happens in an unstructured way, but is something in which you are proactive, determining your goals, and how you are going to reach them. The formatted hints and tips are again provided as are the case studies for this chapter. The reader is reminded of the assistance available to CILIP members, with mentors, forms, and other training options highlighted.

The personal statement is described as being the most important element in a portfolio. In this chapter, sample forms are provided based on the CILIP selection criteria, with hints and words that can be used to address these criteria. A matrix is used as a way of collecting information into a logical format, showing gaps in knowledge, or experience, or possibly even confidence, and ensuring evidence is provided to support any statements or claims made. In the supporting case studies more recommendations are made as different professionals share with the reader steps taken, lessons learned and varying outcomes.

The discussion around supporting evidence provides a wake‐up call. Many of us have folders and files of documentation from courses, conferences, training sessions old job descriptions, performance appraisals, job applications and references. This chapter explains how to create order from apparent chaos. It relates back to the concept of reflective writing, and encourages one to identify the “gaps” in our professional growth. By using the table provided in this Chapter 1 can makes sense of achievements, appreciate not only personal highlights, but also the value we add to the people around us and the organisations we work in.

Building Your Portfolio: The CILIP Guide has been written specifically to address the CILIP framework for professional qualifications. This reviewer is not a CILIP member, and is not working towards any particular qualification. As a tool to review my career to date, and to consider my options for the future, I found it invaluable as would anyone wanting to be a mentor, anyone who employs library or information professionals, students of library and information services, and others interested in effectively recording their continuing PD. One can use the resources of the free web, but having the information brought together in a logical format, with input from professionals at various points in their careers added a great deal of insight into what can be a very intensive exercise. The many references and links included in the slim volume provide even more information, confirmation of the principles described, and inspiration if required.

A portfolio is more than just a method for recording progress. It represents where you have been, where you are now, and where you can go next. Using the CILIP framework as a guide, even without the assistance or support CILIP members enjoy, will enable the reader to create a portfolio that describes their professional history, values and future options in a meaningful way. Watson and her contributors have created a very insightful volume.