Chapter 6 - Developing Future Mentors and Mid-Career Librarians: A Look at the Full Cycle of Faculty Librarian Mentoring

Abstract

For novice librarians who are newly-graduated or who have little to no experience, professional support is essential to help close any gaps in their graduate education and to meet their employment expectations successfully. While nonnovice librarians may not need the skill development that novice librarians need, they will still need the psychosocial support provided by their mentors. Mentor relationships that successfully provide psychosocial support are more likely to be satisfactory to both the mentor and protégé (Ensher, 2002). For nonnovice librarians, those who have some experience, psychosocial support may be more important than professional guidance in order for new employees to adjust to their environment, ultimately helping with retention. By sharing the process of developing a mentoring system in an academic library and then comparing the experiences of two librarians at different points in their careers within the mentoring system, this case study will help illuminate how mentoring can meet the professional and psychosocial needs of librarians and create a more supportive environment.