Stories of Informal Mentorship: Recognizing the Voices of Mentees in Academic Libraries

Based on the 2014 OLA Super Conference session “Mentorship in Academic Libraries: A Universe of Possibilities,” this article explores the benefits of informal mentorship in its various forms and how librarians are embracing a new way of thinking about mentorship both individually and organizationally. The lived experiences of two professional academic librarians are shared as they argue that informal mentorship offers the opportunity to co-create a meaningful mentorship experience by recognizing the importance of the mentee’s voice. This paper will discuss the value of informal mentorship and how, when certain elements are present within it, this model can allow us to reimagine mentorship in academic libraries. Concepts such as “accidental” mentorship, “purposeful” mentorship, mentorship “network,” and “peer” mentorship are discussed.

Advertisement (printed 1 page) advertising Charles Dwight, agent for The Western Bond Board of Kansas City

Advertisement (printed 1 page) advertising Charles Dwight, agent for The Western Bond Board of Kansas City, 1872, n.d.

Approximate estimate of the cost of extending the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway from Geneva Street to the Great Western Railway Station at Lock no. 12

Approximate estimate of the cost of extending the Port Dalhousie and Thorold Railway from Geneva Street to the Great Western Railway Station at Lock no. 12 (2 copies) [one appears to be a rough copy] (2 pages, handwritten), Feb. 2, 1855.

Mr. Woodward’s timetable regarding the suspension bridge to Toronto via the Great Western Railway and Port Dalhousie Railway

Mr. Woodward’s timetable regarding the suspension bridge to Toronto via the Great Western Railway and Port Dalhousie Railway (1 page, handwritten), Jan. 22, 1856

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that he will take the shares, Jan. 16, 1886.

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that the draft for $5000.00 will be forwarded

Telegram from Great North Western Telegraph Company of Canada to S.D. Woodruff from L. Cabot stating that the draft for $5000.00 will be forwarded on Monday or Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1886.

Post card with a notice of freight arrival addressed to S.D. Woodruff from the Great Western Railway for castings, a keg and grates

Post card with a notice of freight arrival addressed to S.D. Woodruff from the Great Western Railway for castings, a keg and grates, Aug.11, [1876].

Printed blank for arrival of goods by Great Western Railway at St. Catharines

Printed blank for arrival of goods by Great Western Railway at St. Catharines, Aug. 24, 1876.

Printed blank for arrival of goods by Great Western Railway at St. Catharines

Printed blank for arrival of goods by Great Western Railway at St. Catharines, Nov. 18 [1876].

Indenture of agreement between the Great Western Railway Company and the Erie and Ontario Railway Company

Indenture of agreement between the Great Western Railway Company and the Erie and Ontario Railway Company in order for the companies to unite, March 20, 1854.

Los narradores y protagonistas de Sandra Cisneros en Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories

Tesis ( Maestría en Letras Españolas ) U.A.N.L.

Memoirs of my Life by John Charles Frémont : Including in the narrative five journeys of western exploration, during the years 1842, 1843-4, 1845-6-7, 1848-9, 1853-4.

UANL

Frontier stories

UANL

Mystery and and detective stories

UANL

Readings in european history ; a collection of extracts from the progress of culture in western Europe since the German invasions

UANL