Mentoring for Mentoring for Success in Success in

Academic LibrariesAcademic Libraries

OLA Super ConferenceOLA Super Conference

February 4, 2005February 4, 2005

What is Mentoring ?What is Mentoring ?

• Developmental, caring, sharing and Developmental, caring, sharing and helping relationshiphelping relationship

• Investment of time, know-how and Investment of time, know-how and efforteffort

• For growth, knowledge, skillsFor growth, knowledge, skills• To meet critical needsTo meet critical needs• To prepare for the futureTo prepare for the future

Why Mentoring?Why Mentoring?

• A lot has been writtenA lot has been written• Many types of programsMany types of programs• Urgent needUrgent need• Call to actionCall to action

Canadian SituationCanadian Situation• Canadian Library Human Resource StudyCanadian Library Human Resource Study

• What we know:What we know:

– majority of library workforce is oldermajority of library workforce is older– 200 to 400 librarians retiring each year 2002-2014200 to 400 librarians retiring each year 2002-2014– 4000 retirements 4000 retirements

Projected Number of Retirements Per Year to 2014

(Red at age 60; Blue at age 65)

20142009200720052003200119991997

Num

ber

of R

etire

men

ts

500

400

300

200

100

Age 65

Age 60+

Who’s Doing What?Who’s Doing What?

• Association mentoringAssociation mentoring

• Informal Library mentoringInformal Library mentoring

• Formal Library mentoringFormal Library mentoring

Benefits of MentoringBenefits of Mentoring

• To the MenteeTo the Mentee– Shape own growth and career planningShape own growth and career planning– Advice on issues beyond day to day workAdvice on issues beyond day to day work– Exposure to new areasExposure to new areas– SupportSupport

Benefits of MentoringBenefits of Mentoring

• To the MentorTo the Mentor– Contribute to the growth of potential Contribute to the growth of potential

future leadersfuture leaders– Intellectual stimulation of new ideasIntellectual stimulation of new ideas– Transfer of knowledgeTransfer of knowledge

Benefits of MentoringBenefits of Mentoring

• To the LibraryTo the Library– Improved performance of menteeImproved performance of mentee– Enriched perspective of mentorEnriched perspective of mentor– Continuum of organizational history / Continuum of organizational history /

knowledgeknowledge– Positive atmosphere Positive atmosphere

ContextContext

• OrientationOrientation

• Tenure/Permanent Status/PromotionTenure/Permanent Status/Promotion

• LeadershipLeadership– mid-careermid-career

Mid-careerMid-careerMentorshipMentorship

A balancing act A balancing act

of mentor of mentor

and menteeand mentee

IntroductionIntroduction

• Why focus on mentoring in regards Why focus on mentoring in regards to mid-career librarians? to mid-career librarians?

What is ‘mid-career’?What is ‘mid-career’?

• CharacteristicsCharacteristics

• TransitionsTransitions

Making the transition, Making the transition, pt. 1pt. 1

• Are you ready to mentor others?Are you ready to mentor others?

Making the transition, Making the transition, pt. 2pt. 2

-Are you thinking about the next Are you thinking about the next stage of your own career?stage of your own career?

Developing a planDeveloping a plan

• Customization is keyCustomization is key

a. Do’s and don’tsa. Do’s and don’ts

b. Mentoring toolkitb. Mentoring toolkit

c. Our planc. Our plan

a. Do / Don’ta. Do / Don’t

DO….DO….– Consider the type of program you wantConsider the type of program you want– State what goals and objectives areState what goals and objectives are– Do your homeworkDo your homework

DON’TDON’T- Make program one-size-fits allMake program one-size-fits all- Require participation of senior Require participation of senior

librarianslibrarians- Set up false expectationsSet up false expectations

b. Mentoring Toolkitb. Mentoring Toolkit

• Brochure on mentoring at different Brochure on mentoring at different career stagescareer stages

• Best practicesBest practices• BibliographyBibliography• WebsiteWebsite

c. Our planc. Our plan

• Focus groupFocus group• Wider consultationWider consultation• Working groupWorking group• A draft planA draft plan

ConclusionConclusion

• Website - arc.utsc.utoronto.ca/ola/Website - arc.utsc.utoronto.ca/ola/• QuestionsQuestions• Thank youThank you