The document outlines a mentoring program for librarians, emphasizing three types of mentorship: convention mentors for new members, yearlong mentors for professional growth, and subject specialists. It discusses modes of communication, common difficulties, and key topics for 21st-century librarianship, such as user experience and technology integration. The document highlights the need for collaboration and promotes resources for ongoing mentorship and professional development.

1. AJL Mentor Mingle
Chicago 2009
"Empowering Librarians
for the 21st Century!"

2. Presented by
Stephanie
(Sara Leah) Gross
MSLIS, MATESOL
Librarian, Yeshiva
University

3. 3 types of mentors
• Convention (Sun.--Wed.)
• Yearlong professional
partnership
• Subject specialists (i.e. website,
bibliographies, HaSafran)

4. Convention mentors
• Meet with new member or first-
timer
• Decide on goals
• Review convention program and
make suggestions
• Spend some meals together to
compare notes
• Make introductions/network

5. Yearlong mentors:
• Meet with mentee to decide on
major areas of need
• Suggest ways in which mentee
can grow professionally, e.g.
associations, workshops,
webinars
• Make certain that mentee knows
of major resources

6. NEW!--Chapter, regional liaisons
• Begin to discuss this here in
Chicago
• Blog or poll local constituents for
their interest and input
• Promote the importance of
mentorship, coaching, &
advisement however possible
throughout the year

7. Subject specialists
• Currently: Use Website,
Hasafran archives, listserv,
bibliographies, users groups
• Desired: "Maven" mentors
• NOTE: Important to check what
has already been answered in
FAQs & listserv. AJL Homepage
to be vastly improved

8. Modes of communication:
• Email: ajlmentoring@gmail.com
• Telephone: 212.960.5442
• Skype: Stephanie.L. Gross
• IM: GTalk, Yahoo!,SMS
• Magic Jack PC calls (all local)
• DimDim.com conference calls

9. Ironing out Glitches
• Contact Chair at the first sign of
major problem
• Suggested turn-around time: 10
business days
• Inform mentee of "black-out"
times, e.g. vacation, holidays,
busy season

10. Difficult situations
• Some positions may demand all
3 types of mentors
• Understand that this is pro bono
professional help.
• Endeavor to prioritize problems
• Mentees must do Due Diligence
• Commitment to CE & Prof.Dev.

11. Topics for the 21st librarian
• UX/UE User Experience
• Embedded librarianship
• Library2.0 (LibraryThing,FB apps)
• Library literacy & critical
thinking
• Chat reference
• Disruptive technology

12. Lessons learned this year
• Healthy competition, but not
exclusion
• Importance of freeware &
Web2.0 to facilitate
communication, outreach
• Collaboration with others to
multiply dividends

13. Related committees, SIGs
• Accreditation
• Professional development
• Continuing education (AJL,
SLA, online SILS schools)
• Student librarians & newly
employed --SIGs 4 P2P?
• Chapter Relations

14. Even better...
• Study-buddies (learning new
technology)
• Peer-to-peer for recent SILS
grads

15. Where applicable:
• Help place library students in internships
• Provide advisement and coaching for
SILS major, thesis, etc.
• Librarians in-between jobs------
o Wherever
o However........(networking)

16. Web2.0 Aids for Mentors
• Resource page on AJL
• Twitter? Facebook? Blogs?
• ALA Connect
[http://connect.ala.org]
• LinkedIn--Discussions
• Bookmarklets: Delicious

17. Remember: Promote successes
• Flickr--(hashtags)
• YouTube (CommonCraft
tutorials)
• Blogs (AJL, Blogspot.com)
• Podcasts--- Possibilities, but
NOT necessities

18. Further Reading
• Farmer, D., M. Stockham, & A.
trussell (January 2009)
Revitalizing a mentoring
program for academic
librarians. College & Research
Libraries (70)1: 8-24.
• SmartComputing. Reasonably-
priced monthly. Includes
technical support w/account