Call for participation in the 2021-2022 ALAO Mentoring Program

The Academic Library Association of Ohio’s Professional Development Committee (ALAO PDC) is excited to announce a call for participation in the 2021-2022 Mentoring Program. 

Program Overview

The Academic Library Association of Ohio Professional Development Committee reviews registration information and matches mentoring pairs. The annual program typically runs from October 1 through September 30. 

The mentor application contains a few fields that will be posted on the ALAO web page as a prospective mentor bio. Mentees will select three potential mentors from the bios and the PDC will match participants and reach out to new mentor-mentee pairs. 

We invite people interested in being mentors to complete the application: https://forms.gle/DL71UzdtysdPcqfs9  

Applications are due September 14, 2021

1. Mentor bios will be posted to an ALAO web page.
2. Prospective mentees review the list of available mentors and identify three mentors they would like to work with.
3. Prospective mentees complete an online application listing their top three mentor choices.
4. ALAO PDC will then work to create a match. When a match is confirmed, both parties will be notified.
5. Prior to your first mentoring meeting, ALAO PDC will provide some guidelines and suggestions to help get the mentoring relationship off to a good start.
6. Typically, most mentoring relationships meet for at least four sessions based on mentor/mentee availability and scheduling preferences.
7. At the end of the mentoring relationship, a program evaluation will go out to both parties.

Who Can Be a Mentor?

We welcome mentors from all levels of professional experience in academic libraries. Mentoring offers a meaningful way to engage with a colleague, be a supportive listener, and help them identify and achieve their professional goals.

Questions? Please contact Melissa Bauer: mbauer10@kent.edu, Michelle McKinney:  michelle.mckinney@uc.edu, or Kristen Peters: petersk@wittenberg.edu 

–Melissa Bauer, First Year Board Member, Kent State University-Stark Campus