Tag: ALSC Mentoring Program

Competencies for Librarians Serving Children in Public Libraries

ALSC Mentoring Program Perspectives #mentorALSC

| Elizabeth Serrano|Leave a comment
mentorALSC Newsletter Header

In February, one of our ALSC Mentoring Program matches contributed a piece to the #mentorALSC Newsletter on their experience in the program up until that point. Below is their fun and inspiring message! Mentee – Marlowe Being new to the profession, the time spent in conversation with my mentor has been invaluable. It has provided training in the form of a wealth of ideas, networking opportunities with seasoned library professionals and increased my confidence within my newly minted role as the Youth Services Librarian. Our monthly conversations allow me to talk about upcoming events, current happenings within my library as well as current trends within the profession. In addition, the calls provide me with an opportunity to ask lots of questions using my mentor as a sounding board for my thoughts. It is especially beneficial for me as a mentee because my mentor is Paula Holmes who also happens to…

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Blogger Jonathan Dolce

2018 And Life to Go: Resolutions Anyone?!

| Jonathan Dolce|2 Comments

Not Another New Year’s Resolution Article I promise.  No eye candy.  No videos strung by html with care.  But it is Elf themed, which you need to watch if you haven’t already. You’ve got just six weeks and four days before the new year makes you keep writing 2017 for a few weeks.  Resolution lists anyone?  Please tell me you aren’t recycling last years, or even lamely “upcycling” them, just to sound trendy or get your friends off your back.  Let’s get real, and let’s apply it to our professional world.  Here we go… Mentoring For the love of candy canes, you have a story to tell, and believe it or not, you could totally help out an up and coming mentee.  No, really.  And it’s easy to get matched. For example, Florida Library Association has a mentoring program every year, that officially only runs one year at a time,…

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ALA Annual 2017

ALSC Mentor Program #alaac17

| Annamarie Carlson|Leave a comment

As a new youth librarian, I was very excited by the opportunity to participate in the ALSC Mentoring Program. This is a free program open to anyone (you don’t have to be an ALSC or ALA member to participate as a mentee). I wrapped up my program by meeting my mentor in person at ALA Annual! As a mentee, I talked with my awesome mentor, Megan Egbert, once a month about our libraries and the various challenges we were facing. We set goals for our program, including: Reviewing what each ALSC committee does and submitting a volunteer application. (This resulted in me getting appointed to the Notable Children’s Recordings committee.) Sharing useful resources in a Google document and discussing our favorites each month. Interviewing a different youth librarian each month. This led to some awesome conversations with Mel Depper, Carissa Christner, Amy Koester, Claudia Haines, and more amazing youth library leaders. It…

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Blogger Dan Bostrom

Volunteer to Be a Mentor or Mentee

| Dan Bostrom|Leave a comment
Apply to be an ALSC mentor or mentee

ALSC announced the opening of spring 2017 applications for the ALSC Mentoring Program. The program, which is open to members and non-members, is intended to help strengthen connections in the field and build the confidence of a new cohort of leaders. Applications are now open for both mentors and mentees. The application process ends on Friday, February 24, 2017.

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ALA Annual 2016

Raise your ALSC voice

| Kristel Sexton|1 Comment

Leadership & ALSC at #ALAAC16 is technically a committee meeting, but it’s an open one. Not knowing any better, I attended (first-timer, you know, so a little clueless). I’m so glad I did. There were great discussions about the effect of technology on children’s services, diversity–both in collections and programming (and I would add the profession, but more on that later), and the desperate need for mentors. I was flat-out awed by the knowledge of the women at my table. Listening to these discussions, it feels like ALSC is at a crossroads. Now more than ever, ALSC needs to hear from new children’s librarians and new members. The women at my table were eager to hear my perspective as someone who has been a librarian for 4 years and a ALSC member for a year. For ALSC to meet all the challenges of the future and create a intentional strategic…

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Blogger Dan Bostrom

Mentoring: How You Can Give Back to the Profession

| Dan Bostrom|Leave a comment

January was National Mentoring Month, but there’s still time to make a difference. The ALSC Mentoring Program is in it’s third year of existence and it’s worth re-visiting what the program is all about. In 2012, the ALSC Emerging Leaders team put together recommendations for a new mentoring program. The original intention was to pair early career professionals with experienced ALSC members. Since Fall 2013, ALSC has been matching mentors and mentees in an effort to make new connections in the profession and increase awareness of interest and familiarity with ALSC committee service and participation. Mentors and mentees set their own goals and meet on their own time. Matches do a lot of different activities, including mock interviews, writing blog posts, and performing research. What Does It Take To Be a Mentor? One difficulty for the program has been in attracting as many mentors as mentees.  The misconception is that it is easy…

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Blogger Dan Bostrom

Applications Open for ALSC Mentoring Program

| Dan Bostrom|Leave a comment

ALSC announced the opening of spring 2016 applications for the mentoring program. The program, which is open to members and non-members, is intended to help build a new collection of leaders in the field of library service to children. Applications are now open for both mentors and mentees. The application process ends on Friday, February 26, 2016. The program lasts one year. Mentee applicants do not need to be ALSC or ALA members. Mentees have some connection to children’s library service and must be 18 or have permission from a parent/guardian. Mentees may be students, early career professionals, individuals returning to the profession, or those who would like to refine their skills, make connections, and learn more about children’s librarianship as a career. ALSC especially invites mentor applicants. Mentors are those individuals who seek to be re-energized and re-invigorated in their work. Mentor applicants must be ALSC members and should…

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