Our new competition is looking for interesting writing and ideas about important library, information and knowledge issues.

The winner will receive a tablet.

It’s open to everyone – you don’t need to be a CILIP member and you don’t have to live in the UK.

As we need to judge entries we can only accept submissions in English.

Entries close at 5pm (GMT) on Friday 7 November.

Competition details

Who can enter?

Anyone can enter who works or studies in the library, knowledge or information sector or has an interest in this or related areas.

You don’t have to be a CILIP member to enter and you don’t have to live in the UK.

You could, for example, be:

• ·         A librarian, archivist or information scientist
• ·         A student studying an information science module
• ·         A researcher, lecturer or teacher
• ·         Someone with a professional interest in library and information issues
• ·          

What sort of topics could I write about?

You could, for instance, provide a new perspective on a library, information and knowledge related topic such as:

• ·         Everyday life e.g. Why supermarket shelves should be arranged by Dewey Decimal…
• ·         Copyright and the law e.g. How does current UK copyright law serve people with disabilities?
• ·         Data, information and knowledge e.g. Why don’t people care about their own data?
• ·         Education e.g. How to teach information literacy in the classroom
• ·         Publishing e.g. 6 reasons a paper book is the perfect technology
• ·         Research e.g. 5 thoughts on the future of open access journals
• ·         Technology e.g. How do you archive a video game?
• ·         The economy and business e.g. 5 ways libraries are supporting new businesses
• ·          

Judging criteria and guidelines

Each submission will be judged on the quality of the writing and the criteria below:

1. Be short and focussed on one issue

• ·         The word limit is 500-1500 words
• ·          

2. Have a short, meaningful and descriptive title

• ·         
  Less than 70 characters (including spaces)
• ·          

3. Be relevant

• ·         
  It should focus on important issues relating to libraries, knowledge and information and the relevance of these issue to wider society.
• ·          

4. Be bold and encourage debates

• ·         
  It should be bold; making a clear argument backed up by facts, stats and sources
• ·         
  It should encourage comments and debate
• ·          

5. Be original

• ·         
  It should provide a new and original perspective
• ·         
  It should not have been published anywhere else previously, including on your own blog.
• ·          

6. Make complex concepts and ideas accessible to non-experts

• ·         
  Use simple, everyday language
• ·         
  Try to explain all acronyms and technical language
• ·          

We would also ask all entrants to try and write for screen reading, bearing in mind that people read differently on a screen compared to reading on paper. For instance:

• ·         
  Use sub-headings to break the blog into meaningful chunks of information
• ·          
• ·         Try the inverted pyramid structure – start with the conclusion, cover the most important and interesting information first and provide more detail later in the piece
• ·          
• ·         Find out more about how users read on the web.
• ·          

How do I submit a blog?

Please email your submission to web@cilip.org.uk with a few lines about yourself and your interest in library and information related topics.

The submission should be a Word document or in the body of the email.

When is the deadline?

Your submissions should be sent to web@cilip.org.uk by 5pm (GMT) on Friday 7 November.

The winning blog post and highly commended blog posts will be chosen by 27 November.

What happens after I submit?

Our judging panel, chaired by CILIP Vice President Jan Parry, will review your submission. After the deadline has passed we will be in touch to let you know whether your blog post has been highly commended or not.

The winning blog post and highly commended blog posts will be published on the website at the end of November and start of December 2014.

What can I win?

The writer of the winning submission will win an iPad mini or Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 (depending on the winner’s preference). 

A group of highly commended submissions will also be selected. Each "highly commended" entrant will receive one Facet Book of their choice up to a value of £60.

See terms and conditions.

Why is CILIP running this competition?

We want to promote:

• ·         Lively and thought-provoking discussion about issues relevant to the library, information and knowledge sectors
• ·         The value of the skills, expertise and knowledge of library, information and knowledge professionals to issues that impact on our day to day lives
• ·          

Who can I contact for more information?

If you have any questions about the competition please email  web@cilip.org.uk.

Link here: www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/enter-cilip-blogger-challenge

Mark Taylor MCIM

Director of External Relations
CILIP: the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals

Tel: 020 7255 0654

Mobile: 07792 635 305

CILIP, 7 Ridgmount St, London, WC1E 7AE