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The Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program (iCAMP) is for cataloging staff in Illinois. We are committed to providing a harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, physical appearance, race, ethnicity, religion, or other individual or group identity. iCAMP is strongly committed to diversity, equity, and the free expression of ideas, including a fundamental respect for the rights, dignity, and value of all persons. We welcome engagement with difficult topics, done with respect and care. iCAMP seeks to provide a meeting environment in which diverse participants may learn, network, and enjoy the company of colleagues in mutual human respect. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and maintain that environment for the benefit of all. 

Mentors and mentees agree to:

• Respect the boundaries of other attendees.

• Look out for one another.

Behaviors such as, but not limited to, the following will not be tolerated:

• Invasion of privacy.

• Abuse of power (including abuses related to position, wealth, race, or gender).

• Homophobia, racism, or behavior that discriminates against a group or class of people.

• Harassment or intimidation based on race, religion, language, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, appearance, or other group status. 

• Sexual harassment of any kind, including unwelcome sexual attention and inappropriate physical contact.

All participants are expected to observe these rules and behaviors in all meeting venues, including online venues, and meeting social events. Participants asked to stop hostile or harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. 

Please contact iCAMP administrators if you believe you have been harassed or that someone has otherwise violated this policy. The appropriate course of action will be taken. All comments will be heard.

Adapted from the ILA Statement of Appropriate Conduct.

Mentorship Program Overview

iCAMP (Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program) is a cataloging-focused mentorship program in Illinois, designed to support professionals at all levels, nurturing both current staff and aspiring cataloging staff.

Goals

• Promote professional development: enhance the skills and career growth of cataloging staff in Illinois 

• Enhance cataloging skills: provide targeted learning and improvement in cataloging techniques 

• Foster networking: encourage building professional connections through structured interactions

Program Guidelines

• Open to all Illinois library workers supporting both existing and future cataloging staff

• All participants must submit an application to participate in the program

• All participants agree to abide by the statement of conduct

• Participants can either be a mentor, mentee or both

• Participants will be automatically added to an iCAMP listserv, icampmentors@list.railslibraries.org  OR icampmentees@list.railslibraries.org, and must remain subscribed while they are participants in the program

• Mentors and mentees will be matched by the iCAMP Committee

• Participants commit to one year in the program

• iCAMP accepts applications annually in the summer, with a new cohort beginning each fall

• Mentors and mentees will participate in a virtual orientation session before the program officially begins. We will send the event details through email and listservs

• Mentors and mentees will have flexibility in deciding how often they communicate and their method of communication (virtual, telephone, email, or face-to-face) but a minimum commitment of two hours per month is expected (more contact is encouraged as individual circumstances permit)

• Each mentor-mentee pair is required to complete a Mentorship Agreement form. Each participant will keep a copy for their records. This will be the foundation for a successful program for both the mentor and mentee.

• Mentors and mentees have the option to meet up at the ILA or Reaching Forward conferences

• Mentor and mentee pairings may change based on mutual consent and agreement from both parties.

• At the conclusion of the year, the Illinois Cataloging Mentorship Program (iCAMP) will no longer be involved in facilitating the mentoring relationship set up for that year. Participants who choose to continue their mentoring relationship after the formal mentoring program ends may do so on their own terms. 

• Mentors and mentees assist in the assessment of the program at the end of mentoring period

Program Benefits

• Explore new ideas and interests

• Pursue fresh professional challenges

• Reflect on your own practices

• Engage in development beyond direct responsibilities

• Share career experiences, knowledge, and skills for personal growth

• Learn from interactions

• Adopt realistic and structured methods 

• Set and manage expectations

• Shape professional paths and develop succession plans 

• Focus on sustainability and build a legacy 

What to Expect

The iCAMP Committee will coordinate/provide:

• An orientation session at the beginning of the program

• Monthly newsletter with suggested activities

• A meet and greet at ILA

• Quarterly check-ins

• Access to mentoring and cataloging resources

• A website dedicated to the program with information, resources, events

• Access to peers via dedicated listservs 

• Year-round support, contact us

Administration

• Program is administered by the iCAMP committee

• Committee members provide support to mentor and mentee pairs as needed

• Program Admin Subcommittee will provide quarterly check-ins via list-servs to assess the status of mentorship relationships

• The iCAMP committee will coordinate an assessment of the program to ensure that the goals have been met (as a final evaluation survey of mentors and mentees)

• Confidentiality is critical

1.  Be honest. 

   • Share your expectations of your mentee(s).

   • It’s ok not to know everything. 

2.  Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

   • Don’t be afraid to ask your mentee(s) questions to build rapport and understand more about their goals and needs.

   • Feel free to use the icampmentors listserv to ask other mentors for help and guidance.

   • Use the contact form for any questions about the iCAMP program.

3.  Actively listen. Discuss ideas with your mentee(s).

4.  Build trust. Get to know and respect your mentee(s) and they will trust and respect you.

5.  Be respectful of time. Your mentee(s) (and probably you, too) are busy. 

   • Try to focus your meetings on issues that you are dealing with or exchanging ideas.  

   • Try to schedule your meetings when you’ll have the time to focus on them and be prepared.

   • If you have a conflict and need to reschedule, notify your mentee(s) with as much notice as possible. 

6.  Set realistic expectations. This will help you and your mentee(s) stay focused.

   • Work with your mentee(s) to create a timeline of what topics to cover and when. 

   • It’s healthy for you to set boundaries around how and when you can be contacted and how much time you spend per month mentoring.

   • Be realistic that meetings may include off-topic discussions, and include time for those. They can build rapport and highlight needs that might not have been uncovered otherwise.

7.  Plan an agenda, but include some wiggle room. Ensure you're covering the topics on the agenda, even if the conversation may drift at times. Having some focus will benefit both you and your mentee(s). 

8.  Recognize limitations. Your mentee(s) will likely be at a different level of cataloging knowledge than you and will likely have different experiences. Be cognizant of these differences and experiences. Lean into the strengths of your mentee(s) and yourself.

9.  Be flexible. You might need to go outside of your comfort zone. Both mentors and mentee(s) can learn things from each other.

1.  Be honest. Share your expectations of your mentor.

2.  Ask questions. 

   • Don’t be afraid to ask questions. 

   • Feel free to use the icampmentees listserv to ask other mentees questions and have discussions with your peers.

   • Use the contact form for any questions about the iCAMP program.

3.  Actively listen. Discuss ideas with your mentor.

4.  Build trust. Get to know and respect your mentor and they will trust and respect you.

5.  Be respectful of time. Your mentor is busy (and you probably are, too).

   • Try to focus your meetings on issues that you are dealing with or exchanging ideas.

   • Try to schedule your meetings when you’ll have the time to focus on them and be prepared.

   • If you have a conflict and need to reschedule, notify your mentor with as much notice as possible.

6.  Set realistic expectations. This will help you and your mentor stay focused. 

   • Don’t try to ask all your questions in your initial meeting. 

   • Work with your mentor to create a timeline of what topics to cover and when.

   • Be realistic that meetings may include off-topic discussions, and include time for those. They can build rapport and highlight needs that might not have been uncovered otherwise.

7.  Plan an agenda, but include some wiggle room. Ensure you're covering the topics on the agenda, even if the conversation may drift at times. Having some focus will benefit both you and your mentor. 

8.  Provide feedback. Let your mentor know if they are or are not helping you. If your mentor is not helping, then work with them to find a solution.

9.  Recognize limitations. Your mentor may not be knowledgeable about every aspect of cataloging, and that’s okay. Be aware of these limitations and work around them. Lean into the strengths of your mentor and yourself.

10.  Be flexible. You might need to go outside of your comfort zone and learn new things from your mentor. This is the whole point of being a mentee, so just relax and enjoy the experience.