The CILT Library collections have, through action coordinated by ALL and partners been conserved for future generations.

CILT LibraryAt Easter 2011 CILT – the National Centre for Languages was required to merge with CfBT and moved its operations from London to Reading. The important Library Collections were, at the time of the move, under threat of being dispersed or destroyed, by the administrators employed, who gave a deadline of only a few days for expressions of interest in acquiring the collections.

Due to generous donations from around the world of languages education in the UK, ALL and partners at the University of Cambridge were able to arrange for these collections to be put into storage, and Cambridge University Press very kindly agreed to house these temporarily whilst a more permanent home could be found. We are extremely grateful to CUP for their help with this part of the process.

In May and June 2013, volunteers from ALL and the University of Cambridge moved approximately 200 crates of books, journals and academic papers from storage crates in the CUP warehouse and transferred them into around 450 boxes ready for transportation on the next stage in their journey. The collection has now been taken to it’s new permanent home at Cambridge English in Duxford, where it will be organised and categorised, and eventually put onto shelves.

ALL and partners at the University of Cambridge would like to say a big thank you to everyone who donated money to this important cause, Cambridge University Press for storing the collection temporarily, Cambridge English for giving it a permanent home, and the volunteers who made sure that the resources could be transported to where they need to be!

CILT LibraryPictured: The volunteer team on 09 May 2013 – including four ALL Presidents, past and present.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CILT LibraryPictured: The volunteer team on 04 June 2013, including the last crate to be transferred – a big moment after a hard and back-breaking day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CILT LibraryPictured: A very relieved volunteer team at the end of 04 June 2013!