Q: I will be starting my MLIS training soon and I have a question about gaining experience before I complete my degree. The type of program I will be completing combines elements of distance based education and a localized scope in its application. I will be able to maintain full-time employment and complete my degree within two years. That being said, I wanted to ask your advice on the type of job I should be seeking while I am still a student in order to garner the type of experience I will need to secure a position after obtaining my degree. I am hoping to be strategic in building my resume so that I am a more attractive candidate. I know that there are Library Assistant jobs that I may be able to obtain before I receive my degree, however, I am curious if you believe that it may prove more advantageous to look for internships or mentoring in lieu of gainful employment or not? I am very eager to begin my training and hope that you may be able to aid me as I begin my journey as a librarian.

SM:  First off, paid employment, if you can do it, is better for several reasons:

1. You’re getting a paycheck.
2. You are held accountable for doing what is required of the job. You will be reviewed by your supervisors, which means you will (or should) care more about doing a good job.
3. You get to learn what it is like to work (really work) in a library. You will discover the good and the bad and you will take this knowledge with you to each successive job.
4. It is (generally) a longer commitment than non-paying types of work, and (usually) you can stay in it post-graduation while you look for a professional job.
5. You will meet people who will become your mentors, serve as references, and perhaps give you a job down the road.

Internships can be wonderful opportunities, but they are usually short-lived and focus on one specific project. Mentorships are also a good idea, and I would encourage you to find a formal mentorship program or seek out a potential mentor on your own, but this should not be in lieu of actual work experience (if at all possible).

Much of what we learn in library school is meaningless until we apply it on the job, and there is no better way to learn about the profession and learn to be a librarian, than working in a library while going to library school.

To answer the second part of your question, library assistant jobs can be difficult to get and you should expect to encounter lots of competition, especially in universities or cities that have library school programs. Because of this, you will probably not have the luxury to pick and choose the exact job you want. But, a good thing to remember when you start looking for professional positions is that employers want experience, any experience. They won’t expect a new graduate to have the specific skills and experience that a working librarian will have. As a student, you should try to get experience in the type of library (academic, public, special) that you want to work in after you graduate. Any specialized experience you acquire along the way is icing on the cake.

To supplement your work, I recommend seeking out mentorship or internship opportunities that address the specific skills and experience you hope to gain to prepare you for the job you hope to get. Also, you should talk to the Career Services department at your school and let them know about your strategy to gain specific types of experience before you graduate. They will be able to help you fulfill your goals. Being strategic about gaining the right experience and skills (to get the job you want), before you even start library school, is very smart. I have a feeling you are on your way to a successful career.

Q: Hello, I am a fairly new librarian with some professional experience, but not much. I got a job quickly out of school, but I was laid off and I am now starting a serious full time job hunt. I am looking for a mentor, someone to help me in my search and guide me to where I need to be to get a job. I also would like someone in the field to give me a critique of my cover letter and resume. Can I send you my cover letter and resume to you for review?  Thanks for your time.

SM: Finding a mentor is a great idea for any new librarian (whether you have a job or not), and for those who are looking to switch career paths or move into different roles. Mentors can provide invaluable advice and much needed encouragement, and they can help to mold your career. We wrote a post about mentoring a few years ago that talks about the benefits of the mentor/mentee relationship and offers links to additional resources.

To find a mentor, you should look in your area for local library organizations that you can join. Some of these might have formal mentoring programs, and some might have members that are interested in taking on the role of mentor. Look for a local SLA, PLA, or ACRL group, or your state library association, and find out what programs and services they have for new librarians. You can also look at national organizations, such as ALA, that sponsor mentoring programs like the New Member’s Round Table Mentoring Program (some state library associations have these as well).

As for reviewing cover letters and resumes, unfortunately we cannot offer that service in the context of this site. However, in your search for mentoring programs, you will most likely find that many of them offer resume and cover letter reviewing services to their members. And, a mentor will be able to review your cover letter and resume. As good practice, we recommend that you always have someone review your cover letter and resume before you send them out. Another option is to find a librarian that you know and respect, ideally someone who is in a role you desire, and ask that person to be your mentor. Before you approach him/her, write down your expectations for the mentor/mentee relationship (e.g., how long should the “relationship” last? what parts of her job do you want her to show you? how do you expect her to help you in your job search? etc.) and your career goals, so you can share them with your mentor.

Also, look into your library school’s Career Services Office. Their services are typically designed for current students, but as an alumnus you might be able to take advantage of their services (which may include resume and cover letter reviewing, mentoring programs, and job search and job transitioning assistance). In addition, we can recommend the following:

ALA’s New Member’s Round Table Resume Review Service (for NMRT members)

LIScareer.com’s Consulting Services (fee service)

Music Library Association’s Resume Review Service (for MLA members)

North Carolina Library Association’s Resume and Cover Letter Review Service and Mentoring Program (for NC NMRT librarians)

Texas Library Association NRMT Mentor Program (for TLA NMRT members)

University of Texas School of Information’s Career Services Office (for students and alumni)

Q: I’ve been reading a lot these days about mentoring programs. What exactly is a mentor, what will he or she do for me, and how can I find one?

Sincerely, Army of One

TA & SM: Involvement in a mentoring partnership can be beneficial to both you and your mentor. And, although the concept of mentorship in librarianship seems now to be thrown about liberally, both people involved need to be committed to the relationship in order for it to work. In its broadest sense, “mentorship refers to a developmental relationship between a more experienced mentor and a less experienced partner referred to as a mentee or protégé.”

Mentoring can be both informal and formal, and often it is good to be involved in both kinds of relationships. When you start a new job, you might be assigned a mentor, or a certain person may just fall into that role. This should be someone you can learn a lot from, someone who can devote some of their time to showing you the ropes of the job and of the profession.

David Hutchins, in his Mentoring white paper for the Society for Human Resources Management, describes the purpose of mentoring as “the professional development of the protégé through the counsel and guidance of the mentor.” He outlines several potential benefits of a mentoring relationship, including enhancing the protégé’s performance and self confidence, as well as improving organizational performance, communication, and creativity.

Mentoring arrangements can be formal or informal, so if no formal program exists in your school or organization, don’t lose faith. Sometimes the best mentoring relationships are those that strike up naturally. (You can also use the links to mentoring programs provided below to look for a mentor.) Look for a mentor who is interested and available, sensitive to someone else’s needs, an excellent listener, generous with coaching and constructive feedback, and, perhaps most importantly, able to keep confidences.

In librarianship, it would also be helpful to have a mentor who is professionally active. The field is both large in number and small in community; having someone to help you navigate this tight network – or even just your first ALA Annual Meeting! – is enormously useful.

You, as the protégé, must also hold up your end of the bargain. Hutchins’ qualities of a successful protégé include a genuine interest in personal growth, being receptive to feedback, and a commitment to learning. Your responsibilities include maintaining open lines of communication with your mentor, establishing clear goals, and effectively using and managing time.

The relationship between mentor and protégé is truly a partnership. While a great deal of work, time, and effort is required of both partners, the results (confidence, communication, creativity and the sharing of knowledge and institutional memory) are of great importance and benefit to the mentor, the protégé, and the larger organization. Be prepared to invest, but also be prepared to see great returns. Best of luck with your search!

Mentoring Programs and Guidelines:

EDUCAUSE Mentoring Programs

ALA NMRT / Mentoring Guidelines

NRMT Mentoring Program

Spectrum Scholar mentor through the ACRL Dr. E. J. Josey Spectrum Scholar Mentor Program

Reforma Mentoring Program

Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Information Kit for Mentoring Partnerships

Upstate New York Chapter Special Libraries Association

Articles:

Hutchins, David B. Mentoring. Society for Human Resources Management, March 1996, reviewed July 2002, (members only).

LIS Career.com

Mentor, Mentor, Who’s the Best Mentor? by Joanne Oud & Angela Madden

Mentoring Students (Wired West)

Mentoring & Libraries: A Bibliography