Only two days left to apply for the Pennsylvania Library Association Mentorship Program

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Are you an early- or mid-career library professional looking for tips about professional growth and career planning? Or are you an experienced librarian looking for an opportunity to reflect on your career, share insight, and give back? The Pennsylvania Library Association Mentorship Program can help.

“This is an amazing program, and participating is a membership benefit of the Pennsylvania Library Association,” said Adam Haigh, Technology Librarian of the Lower Merion Library System. Haigh co-created the pilot of the mentorship program as part of the Pennsylvania Library Association Academy of Leadership Studies (PALS) in 2016 and served as a mentor last year.

“One of the unique aspects of this program is that it is mentee-driven. We encourage mentees to consider what they are hoping to get out of the program and take the initiative based on their individual goals,” Haigh added. “Mentors can serve as sounding boards for those new to the profession or for mid-career librarians seeking to take the next step in their professional development.”

The program is still accepting applications from mentees and mentors. Please register here by December 1. Applicants must be members of the Pennsylvania Library Association. There is no fee for participating in the program.

Mentees will have the opportunity to select a mentor from a list of mentor profiles in December. The program will begin in January 2019 and continue through September 2019. Discussion topics might include a review of the mentee’s resume and cover letter, new trends in technology, tips for managing conflict in the workplace, involvement in Pennsylvania Library Association, and more.

“Our hope is that participants will develop relationships with library leaders across the state that will last longer than the 9 months,” said Haigh. “The mentorship program is just the start.”

The Pennsylvania Library Association Membership Committee and Mentorship Subcommittee coordinate the program. For more information, contact palamentorship@gmail.com.

Jessica Showalter is an Information Resources and Services Support Specialist at Penn State Altoona’s Eiche Library. Say hello on Twitter @libraryjms