ALSC Mentoring Program

The ALSC Mentoring Program seeks to match individuals with an interest in library service to children together for a one-year program.

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ALSC Mentoring Program

The ALSC Mentoring Program, administered by the ALSC Membership Committee and the Managing Children's Services Committee, is currently undergoing a review and revamp. More information will be coming in the future.

If you are independently engaged in a mentorship relationship or considering one, you may find the resources below helpful.

Goals | Sample Activities | More Resources

Goals

The work between a mentor and mentee can be greatly enhanced by setting specific goals. Here are some examples:

  • Learn more about the common challenges we all face in libraries
  • Make new contacts and network within the profession.
  • Work together to come up with 6 crafts for the Bookbag program (ages 6-12).
  • Learn more about school librarianship.
  • Discuss the qualities that make an effective manager/director.
  • Look for opportunities to attend more conferences and trainings that are relevant to my career development.

Sample Activities

Create!

  • Create a shared document/spreadsheet of inclusive program ideas. Encourage others to enter their own ideas/suggestions.
  • Create a book list of diverse titles that you both enjoy. Discuss why you enjoy these titles, what values do they promote?
  • Conduct a survey with your match! Come up with a topic, questions, and then create a form.

Practice Interviews

  • Do a resume/CV review. Share/critique job experiences and skills.
  • Perform a mock interview. Take turns asking each other difficult interview questions (i.e. “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”). Afterwards give written feedback.
  • In advance of your meeting, each come up with 3-5 questions for the other to answer. Make sure to forward to the other person a few days before your meeting to give that person time to come up with appropriate answers.

Topic Discussions

  • Discuss the qualities that make an effective manager/director. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of managers you’ve both encountered in your previous jobs.
  • What steps are you taking to address Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at your library or in your work space?
  • Read an article about mentoring (see resources below). Discuss how it applies to your match.
  • How have either of you been involved in ALSC? Have you downloaded any of ALSC's resources or attended an ALSC event in the past?

Reading and Writing

  • Read and discuss an article from a professional journal such as . What did you like? What didn’t you like?
  • Co-author a blog post for a professional organization.

Participate in Association Events

More Resources

  • from ALSC Mentoring Program participants.
  • Bradford, Laurence. "." Forbes. January 2018.
  • Byington, Teresa. "." Journal of Extension. December 2010. Volume 48. No. 6.
  • Horoszowski, Mark. "." Harvard Business Review. January 2020
  • "." Together. June 2020
  • Ross, Kevin M. "." Journal of Library Administration. 2013. Volume 53. Issue 7-8, pp 412-428.