Mentoring for Librarians
Mentoring for Future Librarians
How the Program Works
Guidelines/Recommendations for Mentors and Mentees
SCOPA Mentoring Program Survey

Mentoring for Librarians

What are the goals of the Librarian Mentoring Program?

• To support professional development of Yale librarians.
• To assist librarians new to Yale in becoming familiar with and involved in the library system.
• To open the channels of communication between those at different levels and in different departments of the system.

Who might request a mentor?

• The program is primarily targeted at librarians at the L1 or L2 level,and librarian new to the Yale system, but it is open to anyone interested in making connections with their colleagues.

Why request a mentor?

• Mentors can be a resource for advice on professional development and navigating within the Yale library system. However, issues concerning job performance should be dealt with by the individual's supervisor.
• Mentors can provide assistance getting involved at both the local and national level.
• Mentors can offer perspectives from an individual working at Yale, but outside your department.

Mentoring for Future Librarians

What are the goals of the Future Librarian Mentoring Program?

• To support the professional development and growth of Yale Library Staff.
• To help build the library and information professions for the future.
• To open the channels of communication between those at different levels and in different departments of the system.

Who might request a mentor?

• Any Yale Library staff or students who are interested in pursuing or are currently enrolled in graduate studies toward a Masters of Library Science.

Why request a mentor?

• Mentors can be a resource for advice on professional development, school choice, and program choice.
• Mentors can provide assistance in how to apply for that first professional position.
• Mentors can offer perspectives from an individual working as a professional in an area of professional interest.

How does the program work?

• The SCOPA liaison will handle all information gathered from participants in the Future Librarians Mentoring Program confidentially.
• Anyone who is interested in participating in the Future Librarians Mentoring Program will initialize contact with the SCOPA Liaison.
• The SCOPA Liaison will send to the potential mentee, the future librarian, a questionnaire that will provide information about the mentee's professional plans. Once this questionnaire is returned to the SCOPA Liaison, the mentee's information will be matched to several appropriate mentors.
• The potential mentors will be contacted to verify that they are able to take on the mentoring responsibility.
• After a short period of time, the mentee will be contacted again and will be provided with a list of 2-3 recommended potential mentors.
• The mentee will select a person from the list and contact the SCOPA Liaison.
• The SCOPA liaison will contact the selected mentor and confirm availability. Both the mentor and the mentee are contacted to confirm the mentoring agreement.
• Once the mentoring agreement is established, it is the responsibility of the mentee to contact the mentor to work out meetings and topics for discussion.

Guidelines/Recommendations for Mentors and Mentees

• General
  • A request for a mentor may be made at any time.
  • A librarian may remove his/her name from the list of prospective mentors at any time, provided that he/she has made arrangements with those that he/she has already agreed to mentor.
  • The established mentoring arrangement will last for one calendar year.
  • Meetings should take place at least once every two months; however this may vary based upon the needs of both parties involved.
  • Mentoring contributes to the professional development of both support staff and librarians and is endorsed by the Administration; meetings between mentors and mentees are considered work time.
  • Information exchanged within the relationship is considered confidential.
    
    
• For Mentors
  • If you would like to participate as a mentor, contact SCOPA Liaison.
• Mentors preferably will be at the level of LII or higher.
• Mentors should indicate the number of people he/she would like to work with during a given year.
• Mentors should inform SCOPA liaison of particular areas of interest and expertise in order to assist in the placement of mentees.
  
  
• For Mentees
• Introduce yourself to the SCOPA Liaison if you would like to request a mentor or if you have any questions.
• Think ahead about what you might like to gain from this relationship.
• Value and take advantage of this opportunity.
  

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This file last modified 05/11/09
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