MLA Mentor Program

The goal of MLA’s Mentor Program is to support career development by providing encouragement, support and guidance to library science students, early-career librarians, mid-career staff looking to advance within their field, or library staff looking to transition into another position.

Overview

The MLA Mentor Program was established to provide a method of introducing and encouraging librarians and other library professionals to work together and network within the community. After several successful years, and based on feedback from past participants, we re-launched the program in 2020 in order to be more inclusive, provide greater resources to mentors and mentees, and increase the overall impact.

We have streamlined the process to two separate cohort groups; a Spring class and an Autumn class. Not only will you receive guidance and ideas from your mentorship partner, but you will now have a group of others in the same stage of the process that you can draw on for support if needed. The formal partnerships will last 6 months rather than a full year, but MLA encourages participants to continue communicating independently after the formal conclusion.

Michigan Library Association will pair mentors with their mentee. Mentees will be provided an email address and phone number for their mentor in order to make first contact. Mentors will also be provided the contact information for their mentee to facilitate the introductory process.

Required Activities for Mentors and Mentees

Each pair will define their own goals and objectives at the beginning of their mentoring relationship
Establish a communication plan that both parties are willing to follow
Activities specific to mentee’s professional goals and interests