What’s it About?
If you are interested in developing the next generation of academic librarians and ensuring a diverse workforce, consider mentoring a Spectrum Scholar through the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program. The goal of the program is to link participating library school students and newly graduated librarians, who are of American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander descent, with established academic librarians who will provide mentoring and coaching support.
What’s Involved?
Mentors will serve as role models in academic librarianship and provide career guidance as well as helping mentees find opportunities for leadership in the profession. Because many of the Spectrum Scholars are part-time library school students, a mentor must make a commitment for a minimum of one year beyond the degree, or a maximum of three years. Mentors must be academic librarians, have a minimum of ten years of professional library experience, and be active in ACRL.
Mentors will receive Web-based training from ACRL to assist them in building a successful mentoring relationship. Mentor responsibilities include:
- Agreeing to contact the mentee monthly or on a regular basis.
- Agreeing to attend a Dutch-treat lunch or dinner meeting with other Spectrum Scholars and mentors to promote networking when at ALA/ACRL conferences.
- Agreeing to spend time with the scholar at library conferences when both are in attendance.
- Submitting brief status reports and an annual report (one page form).
How to Apply
If you are interested in becoming a mentor for an ALA Spectrum Scholar through the ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor program, please complete the application (PDF).
What Happens Next?
The ACRL Dr. E.J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Committee is developing a pool of ready and trained mentors, so that the best possible matches can quickly be made as Spectrum Scholars express their interest in participating in the program. If we are unable to assign you a scholar immediately, you will be notified and your paperwork will be kept on file.
Please apply today (PDF) to be an ACRL Spectrum Scholar Mentor! The profession needs you.
If you have additional questions about the ACRL Dr. E. J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program please contact Committee Chair Nancy Allen at nancy.allen@du.edu or ACRL staff member Kathryn Deiss at kdeiss@ala.org.