Mentoring Experience of Academic Librarians: A Pilot Study of Mentorship in Academic Libraries

Abstract

Librarians have embraced the critical role mentoring can play in the professional growth, socialization and leadership development for academic libraries. The author sought to understand mentoring experiences in career and professional development and psychosocial functions as well as barriers to entering mentoring relationships in New England academic libraries. Surveys sent to academic librarians at Association of College and Research Libraries/New England Chapter News Group invited them to share their experiences with mentoring relationships and its benefits. The study suggests that few structured formal mentoring programs from their own libraries exist for librarians outside of professional associations’ mentoring programs. Additionally, results suggest that the mentoring program antecedents of library organizational culture, prior positive mentoring experience are the main influencing factors for successful implementation of mentoring programs.

Meeting a Need: Piloting a Mentoring Program for History Librarians

“…This mirrors Freedman's (2021) findings on mentoring programs, conducted around the same time, that these sorts of programs may help with retention, especially during difficult times. Other feedback included statements that this benefited both the mentee and the mentor and that they had found a new research partner and friend, reflecting both the career and psychosocial benefits of such programs (Brillat and Mendez 2016;Freedman 2021;Hussey 2017).…”

“…The researchers call on libraries and library organizations to offer this support. Freedman (2021) surveyed the ACRL New England Chapter membership and found that participation in mentoring programs through professional organizations were most common. Several factors contribute to successful mentoring relationships, including "goal alignment" between mentor and mentee, as well as the "mentors' accessibility, encouragement, integrity, content expertise, approachability, guidance, providing resources and challenges, both from career guidance related support and psychosocial aspects" (17).…”

“…Several studies discuss the importance of mentorship for the retention of academic librarians (Freedman 2021;Davidson and Middleton 2006). Freedman suggests that mentorship is an important strategy in the retention of new librarians, especially those with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.…”