Public Libraries, the Home Office, UKSCL (now Libraries Connected), visas, CILIP and Me

43 days ago The Society of Chief Librarians (now a charity known as Libraries Connected) posted a tweet about their assisted digital contract deal with the UK Home Office.

This came as a huge surprise to almost everybody in the UK Library world, from CILIP down to Library Workers on the front-lines of public library services.

I took it upon myself to request further information from the Home Office and sent them this e-mail:

Public Libraries & Visas and Immigration

editor@teenlibrarian.co.uk 18/05/18 (17:16:48 BST)click to expand contents

(G)ood afternoon

I have just discovered that the Home Office is working with a number of UK Public Libraries to offer assistance with Visas and Immigration.

I have a number of questions, namely:

  • How will this work practically (& ethically)?
  • Will library staff be given training in helping people needing assistance?
  • What safeguards are being put in place to safeguard sensitive information?
  • Will people coming in for assistance be given the privacy they need to discuss their immigration and visa requirements or will they be assisted in the library itself?
  • Will this service be limited to Libraries that still fall under the local authority or will it also be made available in volunteer-run libraries?
  • Will Home Office staff be on hand to assist with information if required?
  • Is the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals involved in any way?
  • If it is, how is the Home Office working with them?
  • If it is not, why has the UK’s Library & Information Association been excluded?
  • Were they (CILIP) offered the chance to become involved?

I look forward to hearing from you in due course!

Sincerely
Matt Imrie
Editor: TeenLibrarian

I received a response tellming me that my message had been logged and that they aimed to provide a response within 20 working days.

From: Public Enquiries (CD) <Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk> Date: Fri, May 18, 2018 at 5:16 PM
Subject: Home Office Automated Response
To: “editor@teenlibrarian.co.uk” <editor@teenlibrarian.co.uk>

Thank you for contacting the Home Office.

Your message has been logged.

We aim to provide a response within 20 working days.

**********************************************************************
This email and any files transmitted with it are private and intended
solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed.
If you have received this email in error please return it to the address
it came from telling them it is not for you and then delete it from your
system.
This email message has been swept for computer viruses.

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This was 30 working days ago. I have been patient, knowing that in my previous correspondences with government departments that replies can sometimes be a bit late or bang on the 20 days limit.

I have been poking around while I have been waiting, and did you know that Ayub Khan MBE the current CILIP President, was on the SCL Board during this time as Digital Offer lead (source: http://goscl.com/scl-welcomes-new-board-of-trustees/)

I have a question for CILIP here: a few years ago I was considering putting myself forward as a candidate for the Presidency, I had just finished my time as CKG judge and was stepping down from the YLG London Committee. I ended up not going for it as due to my workplace commitments felt that I would not be able to fulfil the role properly.

I did however do my due diligence and read up on all the requirements for being President, and one of them being is that the person taking the post is not supposed to chair special interest groups or do anything that may show bias towards another organisation. Mr Khan was a trustee of SCL (and is still a trustee for Libraries Connected) and their Digital Offer lead – how was it that the President could have been involved with an organisation and not informed CILIP as to what they were planning with regard to the Home Office and the digital service contract?

Is this not in contravention of one of the requirements of the presidency?

Earlier today CILIP published this clarification on the role of CILIP Board members and Presidential team

Coda: If anyone from the Home Office reads this – I would still really like a response to my email, thank you!

2 Thoughts on “Public Libraries, the Home Office, UKSCL (now Libraries Connected), visas, CILIP and Me

  1. Jane Welby on July 2, 2018 at 9:13 am said:

    Thanks for pursuing this Matt. I look forward to their response!

  2. Pingback: The Home Office responds to my e-mail about the SCL Visa Deal | Teen Librarian

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