Guide to Campaigning

At CILIPS, we believe that libraries and quality information are essential in Scotland, now more than ever. Our vision is of a nation where the vital value of library and information professionals is recognised everywhere, and where our members are empowered to continue developing their innovative skills and knowledge. To achieve this mission, we need your help!

Campaigning and advocacy are about persuasion, influencing for change, and demonstrating value, as you will discover in our evidence bank. Local advocacy is often the most effective way to convince decision makers that communities care deeply about having access to well-funded, professionally-run library services.

How much value politicians attach to libraries can often be a good indication of how much they value people.

Sean McNamara, Director of CILIP Scotland

Whether you are a library professional or a member of the public, your voice matters – speak up for Scotland’s libraries!

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy refers to activities carried out by individuals or groups (or both) to gain support for a cause, idea, service or way of doing things. Advocacy can be aimed at anybody, including political decision makers, as well as friends, family, and your local community.

Libraries and the Law

Legislation

The law safeguards adequate public library access in Scotland and seeks to protect those disproportionately impacted by inequality of opportunity, which libraries of all sectors play a vital role in reducing. Key pieces of legislation for library advocacy include:

• The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994

• The Human Rights Act 1998

• The Equality Act 2010

Discover more about Libraries and the Law.

In part two of Scotland’s Library Advocacy Story, a special double episode of the CILIPS Podcast, Govan Law Centre principal solicitor advocate Mike Dailly shared further insights into how campaigners can make the most of existing legal frameworks to fight for their local libraries. Listen above.

Freedom of Information

One useful way of gathering evidence that helps to demonstrate the value of a library service is to submit a Freedom of Information request (FOI). The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 gives everyone, even people living outside of Scotland, the legal right to request information held by Scottish public bodies, including the Scottish Government, local councils, the NHS, and most schools, universities and colleges. The act aims to increase openness and accountability across the public sector by ensuring that individuals have the right to access information held by Scottish Public Authorities.

Visit the Scottish Information Commissioner’s website for all you need to know about submitting an FOI request.

How to Advocate

Library Professionals

• Provide us with a short blog post or a case study of the work you are doing, either getting in touch via admin@cilips.org.uk or using this form.
• Highlight our advocacy to decision makers in your Local Authority, providing evidence of how you or your colleagues make a difference.

We understand that some local authority workers may not be able to support our campaigns publicly, depending on workplace policies, so please check with your line manager if unsure.

Library Users

• Re-share our ongoing library advocacy content on the CILIPS podcast, in our newsletter, on YouTube and via social media: Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Find key facts about why libraries are essential to Scotland in our evolving evidence bank.
• Did you know there are almost 3 million libraries around the globe? Consult the IFLA Library Map of the World to learn more, with their SDG Stories illustrating how libraries worldwide contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
• Use our Sample Letter as a guide and write to local decision makers or candidates standing for election.

Key Terms

Petitioning

Petitions can be an effective way to raise awareness of an issue affecting libraries and their users in Scotland. Any person or organisation can submit a petition to the Scottish Parliament, where it will then be considered by the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee.

Petitions must be about:

• something that is within the powers of the Scottish Parliament (also known as devolved powers)
• an issue of national policy or practice

Learn more about submitting a petition to the Scottish Parliament.

All UK citizens can also submit a petition to the UK Government. After 10,000 signatures, petitions receive a response from the government, and after 100,000 signatures, petitions are considered for debate in Parliament. Again, the subject of a petition must be something that the Westminster Parliament or the UK Government is responsible for.

Learn more about petitioning Parliament.

Lobbying

Lobbying is a type of advocacy that focuses on making a case for political change and is targeted towards political representatives.

Anyone can lobby, but some employers may place restrictions on lobbying activity. Please make sure you have checked your terms of employment and any guidance issued by your employer before you start, and that you represent yourself at all times as a private individual/CILIPS member.

Depending on where political responsibility lies for the issue you wish to lobby about, you may be lobbying a local councillor, an MSP, an MP or, for some issues, an MEP. Click the ‘contact your politician’ envelope to find the current representatives for your postcode.

Political representatives value information from constituents presented in a concise way, so your lobbying will be most effective if you prepare in advance. You can also use Sample Letter as a guide.

Make sure to include your contact details; a heading identifying the subject you want to address; an initial paragraph introducing yourself and the issue; and clear, concise examples that help to evidence your case. We recommend ending your letter with a question – for example, asking your political representative for a meeting – to increase the chance of receiving a reply rather than just an acknowledgement.

If you meet with your representative online or in person, remember to be positive, polite, and suggest solutions to the issue you have raised wherever possible. Make short notes prior to the meeting on your key points (also known as a briefing document) and leave a copy with the representative to ensure they have a written record of the evidence you have shared. Afterwards, send them a note of thanks and please keep CILIPS informed of your progress so we can support any follow-up activity.