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SLA Mentoring Experience |
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Greetings and salutations from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! My name is Barbara Semonche, chair of the Special Libraries Association Committee on Student Academic Relations. I'm here today to talk about an abiding interest of special librarians. They are a diverse group. Some are corporate, government, or academic librarians. More than a few are independent knowledge management consultants. Others are identified as "information architects," "database designers," "online searchers" and more. All of us are interested and committed toward professional education and development. A central component of that commitment involves mentoring students and new professionals. The origin of the word, "mentor," goes back a few thousand years. Mentor was the senior friend and advisor to Odysseus. Before Odysseus went to fight in the Trojan War, he made Mentor the guardian of his son, Telemachus. Today, the word mentor means a close, trusted, wise, and faithful counselor. Certainly tutor, coach, guide are appropriate synonyms. Because of their high degree of professionalism SLA members are uniquely positioned to qualify as "mentors." In fact, many are currently actively involved in mentoring programs sponsored by their Chapters, Divisions, Caucuses, and the entire Association. Let me introduce you to these SLA student members and their activities. Student members are not all young "twenty-somethings." Some have returned to college after successful careers in other fields. For a few, library and information science may indeed be their third or fourth career! As such, their future professional paths may diverge from the expected. They have different priorities. Students vary in their experiences, education, and cultural backgrounds. But as a group they tend to be highly intelligent and deeply committed to professional excellence. Currently in SLA, there are 34 Student Groups (each with faculty advisors) affiliated with colleges and universities supporting graduate programs in library and information science. They comprise nearly 10 percent of the total SLA membership. That means more than 1,400 students. And what contributions they make to our profession! They become our special library interns and contributors to Chapter activities and Division programs. Their graduate scholarship address such topics as:
Lest students and members think, incorrectly, that it is all work and no fun, allow me to enlighten you on the other side of student life. Besides designing web pages, launching listservs, and earning graduate degrees, our students focus on fun, and fellowship. Touring special libraries, archives, and research centers (in such extraordinary places as prisons and presidential libraries) is high on their agendas, as is attending technology workshops and career fairs The Special Libraries Association supports these Student Group Members and their faculty advisors in a variety of ways. Inaugurated in 1998 was the SLA Vormelker Award for Mentoring. NIEHS Reference Library Director, Larry Wright, is the first recipient. 1. Over $60,000 is offered annually in the form of scholarships and travel stipends. 2. SLA encourages professional growth and development through its virtual and human networking opportunities. Students can take advantage of: 3. SLA supports a Student Academic Relations Committee which seeks to recognize outstanding Student Groups. 4. SLA's Diversity Leadership Development Program pairs members of diverse backgrounds with experienced SLA members who serve as mentors. 5. SLA also supports a student publication. Be on the lookout for the biennial issues of The Student Union. As for SLA Chapters and Divisions, the news is just as heartening. Here are just a few examples.
Chapters and Divisions routinely subsidize students attending their meetings and workshops. Some have designated members who act as coordinators between the Student Groups, their Advisors and the parent organization. The best of these coordinators and Advisors act as genuine friends and colleagues. And what is it that they do?
NOW, WHAT IS IT THAT THE REST OF THE VETERAN SLA MEMBERS CAN DO?
We recognize that not everyone offer large amounts of money for scholarships and stipends, but there are other ways to offer support. Ask yourselves these questions,
Can I:
If you can do even a few of these things for students, or perhaps other projects even more worthy, please consider yourself invited to be a mentor for library and information science students. You do *not* have to be "certified" or "registered" as a mentor. This is a pretty easy, informal undertaking. Common sense, friendly attitude, and supportive professionalism are the focus here. For those SLA Chapters and Divisions desiring to develop a more structured Mentoring Approach, a special Mentoring Activity Model is available for study. Contact SLA’s Membership Director for a copy of this guide. This is Barbara Semonche from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Journalism and Mass Communication Library encouraging you to join me as a mentor. I can be reached at the information listed below. I look forward to seeing all of you soon. CONTACTS SPECIAL LIBRARIES ASSOCIATION SLA STUDENT ACADEMIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE |
| Copyright 2003 - The Park Library - School of Journalism and Mass Communication - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |