Riddell becomes honorary fellow of CILIP

The “highest library honour” has been awarded to illustrator Chris Riddell.

The former children’s laureate was presented with Honorary Fellowship of CILIP, the library and information association, as part of the UK’s first Libraries Week this week.

A CILIP spokesperson said: “Chris is recognised for using his art and his influence to promote the unique value of libraries and librarians in people’s lives.

“As laureate and more recently as president of the School Libraries Association, Chris has championed the work of librarians and the role of libraries, particularly school libraries and their impact on children and young people. He has used his influence with politicians to help them understand both the challenges the library sector is facing and the unique role which libraries play in all of our lives.”

Riddell also presented the 2017 Libraries Change Lives national award for innovation and impact in library services to HMP Norwich library.

Honorary Fellowship has been awarded by CILIP and its predecessor the Library Association since 1896. It is the highest recognition given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the library and information world.

Previous recipients include  Scottish philanthropist and library founder Andrew Carnegie, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal system used in library classification, Melvil Dewey, the poet, novelist and librarian Philip Larkin, novelist Dame Catherine Cookson and children’s illustrator and author Shirley Hughes.