Mentors

Applicants For Attendees Mentors Schedule

2015 MILE Mentor Application

About the MILE Mentoring Program

The MILE Mentoring Program pairs participants in the MLA Institute for Leadership Excellence with an experienced library professional. The Mentoring Committee will strive to pair mentees with mentors who have similar career trajectories or goals.

Goals for mentees in the MILE Mentoring Program:

• Develop and refine skills necessary to be a leader in the libraries of tomorrow.
• Develop and move forward on professional and personal goals.
• Network and make connections with colleagues in the broader community.
• Reflect on the variety of leadership opportunities available at the local, regional, and state levels.

Benefits to mentors in the MILE Mentoring program:

• Contribute to the profession by helping to develop future leaders.
• Gain leadership and communication skills.
• Trade perspectives with another dedicated library professional.

Time Commitment

The MILE Mentoring Program will last eighteen months (from May 2015 to November 2016). Mentors are strongly encouraged to attend a portion of the retreat for MILE attendees in May 2015. The time commitment across the following months will depend on mentor and mentee availability, but it is suggested that meetings take place at least every other month (this could be in person, via Skype, over the phone, using email, etc.).

Mentor Qualifications

A mentor is an experienced and trusted advisor. Within the context of a career, a mentor is an experienced person who provides guidance and support to a developing professional.

We encourage individuals from all types of libraries, in all positions, to apply for the MILE Mentoring Program. Ideally, mentors will be able to introduce mentees to the many opportunities for involvement in professional organizations such as MLA and can offer guidance and perspective regarding the mentee’s own goals. A mentor must have been employed in a professional position for at least five years, and be willing to correspond with their mentee at least once every other month. A mentor needs to have a sincere interest in helping librarians who are new to the profession or library students. Mentoring involves being a good listener, a thoughtful advisor, and a role model.

Note: If a mentor is a past participant of MILE, they need to wait at least one cycle to volunteer as a mentor. This means that 2013 MILE participants are not eligible to serve as mentors to the 2015 class, but 2011 participants are.

Expectations

Mentors will be expected to initiate contact with the mentee at the start of the program with an introductory email. At the end of the program, mentors will be asked to give feedback to the MILE Mentoring Subcommittee to help determine how the program can be improved. Mentors will receive a letter recognizing their service in this program for their files upon request.

We Ask All of Our Mentors to...

• Honor the 18-month commitment.
• Work with your participants to understand and help frame their goals.
• Contact your mentee and reach a satisfactory schedule for meetings and goal updates.
• Attend a half-day session at the MILE retreat in May 2015.

The MILE Mentoring Subcommittee will send each mentor-mentee pair monthly discussion topics via email. These topics are meant to jump-start discussion; mentors and mentees are free to discuss whatever they want, whenever and however is most convenient for them. The MILE Mentoring Subcommittee is also available to help address any problems that come up in the mentoring relationship. Please contact us if you have questions or comments regarding the MILE Mentoring Program.

Mentor applications are due by March 31, 2015.