Diary 09/09

I applied for the YALSA (young adult library services association) mentoring programming. I hope to hear back soon as to whether I have been accepted.

Q: How does the YALSA mentoring program work?

After being matched with his/her mentor, the protégé will contact her mentor and determine when and how they will communicate. Mentors and protégés should establish short-term and long-term goals for the year, which meet the learning needs of both the mentor and protégé. YALSA encourages mentors and protégés to identify and collaborate on specific activities to support the learning goals of the mentoring relationship.

YALSA will provide participants with a handbook that includes monthly discussion topics as well as a suggested list of resources that mentors and protégés can use to develop their mentoring goals or jump start their mentoring conversations and activities. In addition, YALSA will provide a space on ALA Connect for mentors and another for protégés. The space can be used for sharing resources, networking, exchanging ideas and more. YALSA will also host quarterly chat sessions for mentors and protégés. If enough participants indicate an interest, YALSA will host a get together for mentors and protégés at ALA’s 2011 Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference. At the conclusion of the program, mentors and protégés will be asked to complete a program evaluation.

I hope to be chosen. I have decided that if this is going to be my career I might as well jump in with BOTH feet...