Mentoring Program
YALSA’s new mentoring program will pair an experienced librarian with a new librarian or graduate student in a Library Science program. YALSA believes that we all have important skills and knowledge that we can share with one another and so this program encourages protégés to share their skills and know-how with their mentor.
Questions? Contact Eve Gaus at
egaus@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5293.
Guidelines
Download guidelines for
mentors (PDF) and
protégés (PDF)
Mentoring Application Timeline
April 5 – June 30, 2010: Applications accepted for mentors and protégés
July 1 – September 1, 2010: Task Force reviews applications
Mid-September: Letters sent out to accepted mentors and protégés
October: Online training event for mentors and protégés
November: Mentors matched with protégés
Questions about the program? Please see our
FAQ or contact Eve Gaus at
egaus@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433 ext. 5293.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the time commitment for the YALSA mentoring program?
A: All mentors and protégés are asked to participate in an online training session and all participants are expected to give at least four hours per month to the program.
Q: How long is the program?
A: The mentoring program runs for 12 months, from January 2011 through December 2011
Q: Who can apply for the program?
A: YALSA members who are graduate students in library science programs and young adult librarians with fewer than six years of service are invited to complete the protégé application. YALSA members who are young adult services librarians, secondary school librarians, administrators or library educators with six or more years of service are invited to complete the mentor application. Please note that both mentors and protégés must submit a reference form. Mentors must also submit a resume.
Q: When does the program begin?
A: Accepted applicants will be notified in mid-September and mentors and protégés will be matched in November 2010 and the program will run from January 2011 through December 2011
Q: How do I communicate with my mentor/protégé?
A: Once you are matched with your mentor/protégé the two of you will decide how best to communicate with one another.
Q: How does the program work?
A: After being matched with his/her mentor, the protégé will contact her mentor and determine when and how they will communicate. Mentors and protégés should establish short-term and long-term goals for the year, which meet the learning needs of both the mentor and protégé. YALSA encourages mentors and protégés to identify and collaborate on specific activities to support the learning goals of the mentoring relationship.
YALSA will provide participants with a handbook that includes monthly discussion topics as well as a suggested list of resources that mentors and protégés can use to develop their mentoring goals or jump start their mentoring conversations and activities. In addition, YALSA will provide a space on ALA Connect for mentors and another for protégés. The space can be used for sharing resources, networking, exchanging ideas and more. YALSA will also host quarterly chat sessions for mentors and protégés. If enough participants indicate an interest, YALSA will host a get together for mentors and protégés at ALA’s 2011 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference. At the conclusion of the program, mentors and protégés will be asked to complete a program evaluation.
Q: How will I be matched up with my partner?
A: A task force, appointed by the YALSA president, will review the submitted applications. The task force will match accepted mentor and protégé applicants based on areas of interest and if applicable, geographic location.
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