As we count down to the new year, we get the ball rolling with some topics for discussion in 2007…

5: Too many UK professional organisations?

Belt tightening has been ongoing at Cilip and Aslib for some years now, with both organisations having had to cut back staffing or cut overheads. Cilip's subgroups had a pre-Christmas decapitation of allowances. On Aslib's website, no new press release has been posted since October 2005; the Aslib/Managing Information Forum has been closed down "due to the irresponsible postings of some users"; and after mass resignations from sub-group ASSIGN in 2005, it still lists incorrect contact details. The European chapter of the SLA, meanwhile, has appeared to thrive – mainly because it’s a relatively "virtual" network of likeminded professionals with little in the way of overheads to worry about. Can the UK's IP community really continue to support three major organisations in 2007? Or does the profession need a single strong voice in these challenging times?