Program Mission
The Illinois Library Association Mentorship Program is designed to lay a solid professional foundation for the mentee to grow, learn, and thrive in the field of librarianship in Illinois or elsewhere.
Program Guidelines
- Mentees must be an ALA/ILA student member or an ILA personal member with less than five years of work experience currently working at in a library setting.
- Mentees will be paired with experienced professionals in the field of librarianship over the course of a 6-month period.
- Mentors will be experienced professionals who have worked in the field for a number of years (minimum 6-8 years) and/or are currently employed in a library setting.
- Mentors need to be able to put in the time and energy to form a strong relationship with their mentee, provide guidance and support, and help them achieve their goals. Without these elements, the mentoring process can be ineffective and may not have a positive impact on the mentee.
- It is also imperative for the mentee to be dedicated to the program so that they can make the most of the experience. This includes setting and achieving goals, engaging in meaningful conversations, and taking the initiative to ask questions. Having a dedicated mentee helps to ensure that the mentor-mentee relationship is productive and mutually beneficial.
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