You Need A Mentor! Tips and Advice for Getting

and Keeping One Katharine Clark-Madison Public Library

18 years library experience2007 WLA WeLead protégé2013 WeLead Taskforce ChairWLA Conference planningWLA Conference presenter

Started in 2005

Two year commitment

WLA membership, conference stipends,Leadership opportunities

Meets goal of WLA to strengthen organization

five classes of protégés/mentors

Applications this summer for 2017-18

WeLead Background

WeLead Program

Library School sponsored programsEx: mentoring agreement for FEAL grant recipients at UW-SOIS

ALA-NMRT Mentoring program

“Stalking” option

Formal and Informal Mentors

Bee-ing a good mentee

BE YOURSELF! NO SHOTS!

Be active

Be thankful

Be sharing

Be relevant

Be the real you

• Mentor/Protégé relationshipsLearn from each other

• Protégé/Protégé relationships Learn from other participants in mentoring program

• Becoming part of Mentor’s professional network

Building Networks

Answer emails promptly

Return phone calls

Show up on time for dates/lunches

Be professional

Valuable references

Mentoring Musts

Expectations and Connections

BE CLEAR BE INVOLVED

What are your goals for experience?

How often should you meet? Email?

Get specifics

Respect each other’s time

Don’t force compatibility

Share about values

Learn about their life outside of school and library

Social events

Questions? Comments? Katharine Clark

kclark@madisonpubliclibrary.org

Energy + Experience =

Powerful Mentoring Relationships