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#critlib 2017-08-23: mentorship chat
Archive of the August 23 2017 #critlib chat on mentorship, moderated by @zoh_zoh. For more info about #critlib, including past and future chats, visit http://critlib.org/
- Friends please mark your calendars & join me for a #critlib chat about mentorship on Weds 8/23 at 11AM Pacific! http://critlib.org/mentorship-chat/ ā¦
- This'll be a great chat for LIS students & new librarians! Let's talk about mentorship & how it can address structural inequity! #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/898604662089072641 ā¦
- We'll start today's #critlib chat about mentorship in just about 25 minutes. Qs & readings here: http://critlib.org/mentorship-chat/ ā¦
- Introductions
- Hello #critlib! Iām Olivia, Scholarly Communication Associate @ButlerLib!
- If you want to post to the #critlib chat anonymously, use this form to tweet https://script.google.com/macros/s/AKfycbwyWyihbid8kFgyc1Pu5_BTBFGZt9Ij75bA9WPjPaMu1jCgtNmQ/exec ā¦ which will be posted by @CritLib_anon.
- Q1. How do you define success in a mentoring relationship?
- A1 mutual learning & creation of nonhierarchical/flat support relationship #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/900419872240410626 ā¦
- @histknowledge definitely! feel free to tag your answers with the hashtag, e.g. A1... #critlib if you want to share with the chat. :)
- @SueAGardner Ooh, good point. Successful mentoring relationships need mutual trust/confidence. #critlib
- @SueAGardner i agree w this, & also think it's harder to get to w formal mentorship programs right away. wondering how that can be mitigated? #critlib
- Yes, this! I think that both parties have to give this rapport time to grow, but without it, many things are impossible. #critlib https://twitter.com/SueAGardner/status/900420395358191616 ā¦
- @ephemeramanda @SueAGardner Good point! Have had 'arranged' mentorships not work out for this reason. For me, wonder if it was bc relationship was 100% email? #critlib
- @erinaleach #critlib definitely. it can be hard on the ego to be a mentor who doesn't know all the answers
- Re A1. This can also set up idea that luminaries in the field are most worthy mentors, which can make it more intimidating to ask. #critlib https://twitter.com/erinaleach/status/900421569826181120 ā¦
- Q2. Have you ever participated in, or do you currently participate in, a formal mentorship program? If so, what is/was it? What was your experience?
- @dimmitsays @ephemeramanda @SueAGardner FWIW, I'm meeting w/someone via Google Hangouts and it's way more...impactful than mentor/mentee relationships I've had by email. #critlib
- #critlib this pretty much happened to me, too! I think it was a case of the person's workload getting in the way, but it was still uncool. https://twitter.com/CritLib_anon/status/900422720265089024 ā¦
- #critlib A1 tend to agree; do also think a canny mentor knows when / how to segue between mentoring & coaching to subvert this. https://twitter.com/erinaleach/status/900421569826181120 ā¦
- if you're interested in the ALA mentorship programs being mentioned in the answers to Q2, check out http://www.ala.org/tools/librariestransform/mentoring-opportunities ā¦ #critlib
- @erinaleach @dimmitsays @ephemeramanda @SueAGardner Agree with this 100% - I'm a part of a formal mentoring program and even our chats on the phone are more productive than emails #critlib
- This is critical. Sometimes, you may need to drop everything, especially if there's a diversity issue involved. #critlib https://twitter.com/erinaleach/status/900423733155954688 ā¦
- @SueAGardner #critlib i've had much more success with informal mentors. they made the time ...
- #critlib A2 I have a mentor for @CILIPinfo chartership. The chartership provides the framework; you make of the process what you will.
- A2. I was an ALCTS mentor for a hot second. But I'm a crap correspondent (especially via email) so.... sorry, Heather! #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/900422386360737792 ā¦
- This is an interesting point--anyone else have struggles finding good mentors in their mid-career? #critlib https://twitter.com/SueAGardner/status/900423887963467783 ā¦
- @sarahkirkley I loved my formal program experience but I am still super jealous of this & wish MPOW had something like it #critlib
- This as well! Underrepresented groups often get pulled into extra service work which is not rewarded as much as other productivity #critlib https://twitter.com/julezig/status/900424454609788928 ā¦
- @CILIPinfo #critlib A2.2 this has worked extremely well & IME worth the @CILIPinfo membership by itself.
- Q3. What are some informal ways you have mentored, or been mentored by, other library workers?
- A3. Informal mentoring is my jam. Largely because it's less likely to come with a sense of attachment or control. #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/900424912166375426 ā¦
- A3 I remember many library workers at Multnomah County bluntly telling me the truth about #librarylife & it meant a lot. #critlib
- A3: Also shoutout to @kevinseeber for being the unquestioningly best boss an instruction grad student could have asked for #critlib
- I think this is so key--whenever you can, give your mentees something meaningful to *do* or *create*. #critlib https://twitter.com/mancwegian918/status/900426218201378816 ā¦
- @kevinseeber A3- he told me the truth about issues I would face, listened to my ideas, made time for informal coffee, made great & terrible puns #critlib
- Same. Feel lucky that folks treated us like people w/real goals and empowered us to figure them out. #critlib https://twitter.com/thelizbrarian/status/900426317241491457 ā¦
- @violetbfox That makes a lot of sense. Sometimes, you need to know a person is formally in your corner. #critlib
- @ephemeramanda and we have so much to learn from each other! #critlib
- The opportunity to create was extremely formative both in my grad school & first lib job. It's so much more than a bullet on a CV #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/900426425341050881 ā¦
- @JenniLBurke scheduled meetings with me to discuss differences and similarities between libraries because I didn't know anything #critlib
- @rwgammons This is such a great way of describing it! #critlib
- Q4. What are some examples of strong mentorship programs outside of libraries? What can we adapt/change in library mentorship programs?
- A4 #critlib short-term, almost pop-up, m-ship: http://bit.ly/2xsOtOW . but recurs at annual @afsfolklorists professional meeting...
- A4 I don't have a great answer for this - but I am a big believer in shine theory: https://tinyurl.com/y888zveo #critlib
- A3. Absolutely! Also, asynchronous Twitter and blogs fit in better than phone for time on desk and communication across time zones. #critlib https://twitter.com/preater/status/900427701521199106 ā¦
- Unless you count feedback on whether you'd make a good cataloger. #bornotmade #anyonecanlearnbutcanyoudoitwell #critlib
- I am also about to start a TT job and SAME...v open to any/all advice #critlib https://twitter.com/kaitlinspring/status/900429375425847298 ā¦
- @erinaleach Think being supportive and friendly are totally underrated and can open up communication channels #critlib
- Q5. How can mentorship help surface and transform power structures in library professions?
- @violetbfox On the same wavelength, m-ship can also reveal new issues that established people might not be aware of due to changing times #critlib
- I see a new mentoring possibility... #critlib https://twitter.com/chelseaheinbach/status/900429834517528577 ā¦
- @sarahkirkley been thnkng abt this - i like helping & supporting ppl, but wondering if i'm too new to have smthng to contribute to formal mship #critlib
- @chelseaheinbach I'm always happy to chat about my experience going from non-TT academic lib to a TT position. It's awesome & daunting. #critlib
- @chelseaheinbach Congratulations!! Advice re TT: listen to what your reappt cmte tells you to do every yr. It is a non-optional hoop to jump through #critlib
- @metageeky Definitely. Emerging issues within a workplace. And issues of student loan debt, which older librarians might not have dealt with. #critlib
- @chelseaheinbach Don't say yes too much. You'll regret it later ;) #critlib
- A5 if you're a library worker of color, be sure to check out @librarieswehere #critlib
- @violetbfox Great example. Also sandwich caretaking issues, differences in financial things like home ownership, tech expectations. #critlib
- A5 I also want to boost #poclibrariansatwork as another way of finding community/mentorship for libs of color. #critlib
- A5 #critlib useful piece when thinking about mentoring models: http://bit.ly/2wFg9mr Not sure it's a full answer, but has good points.
- @Badgersssss especially clarify unwritten rules & weird norms. #critlib
- @thelizbrarian Keeping in mind need for more than 1-on-1 mentorship, how could para/staff be incorporated in workplace mentorship programs? #critlib
- @violetbfox @thelizbrarian I've seen first year/new employees do lunch outings for this purpose. #critlib
- I will shamelessly pitch that I had my first peer-reviewed article published in @libraryleadpipe today! http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2017/finding-foundations-a-model-for-information-literacy-assessment-of-first-year-students/ ā¦ #critlib
- @violetbfox @thelizbrarian Although I've seen efforts like this in grad programs create a super clique-ish group for that class year. #critlib
- @violetbfox Think we need to start by acknowledging their expertise, that they know lots of things we don't. That we can/shld learn from them. #critlib
- A5. Mentors can help talk through institutional power structures, work out strategies for facing, challenging, shifting, surviving. #critlib https://twitter.com/zoh_zoh/status/900429815676755968 ā¦
- My #critlib pitch is to ask you if you have questions re: publishing research to ask them using #libparlor hashtag to get convos started
- I started a TT job last year, & I have very similar worries #critlib p.s. quick plug for #libparlor b/c this is what my first post is about! https://twitter.com/kaitlinspring/status/900429375425847298 ā¦
- @erinaleach Yup. And holding up those folks as "mentors" for anyone else can be daunting/off-putting. #critlib
- ALSO If you have expertise to share re: publishing LIS research pls consider contributing to #libparlor http://bit.ly/libparlor #critlib
- my colleagues & I started a zotero library with mentoring literature & resources #critlib might find useful: https://www.zotero.org/groups/514222/mentoring_resources ā¦
- @keribrary Yes, but there's the issue @ErinLeach is bringing up. You don't want to make the mentee have to do more work educating the mentor #critlib
- My wrap up comment is that it is very fun to see a mentee do well! @violetbfox #critlib
- @SueAGardner Thanks!! So glad I was able to talk with you about the future when I was unsure of myself & my career. š Your kindness means a lot! #critlib
- @metageeky @ErinLeach Right. I wouldn't expect it, I would just want to be open to listening when appropriate, I don't know everything + #critlib
- A5.) Anyway, here's Wonderwall. #critlib pic.twitter.com/kfgDVu7f8n
- @erinaleach Struggling is a good first step. Addressing diversity and change has a lot of bootstrapping problems. #critlib
- @metageeky @ErinLeach + but I wouldn't want to be like: OMG! Tell me everything about being a new/marginalized/struggling library worker! + #critlib
- @erinaleach It would be easily solved if we had more diversity but to get more diversity, we need to change... ACK! #critlib
- I need to print this tweet & hang it in my office. #critlib https://twitter.com/nora_almeida/status/900430636950986754 ā¦
- #critlib Blog post that reminds white allies to listen & #DoTheWork w/o asking so much emotional labor of POC: https://aprilhathcock.wordpress.com/2016/04/13/youre-gonna-screw-up/ ā¦ https://twitter.com/violetbfox/status/900432065367339009 ā¦
- @keribrary @ErinLeach It's amazing how many people of rare diversity get asked such questions. #critlib
- @metageeky @ErinLeach + but I hope I could hear what they have to say, and put it in context to support their needs and to lift them up when I can #critlib
- @lisahubbell Yes! Also, read On Being Included by Sarah Amed! Great book that touches on WOC in academia https://www.dukeupress.edu/on-being-included ā¦ #Critlib
- #critpitch: There are some amazing #critlib chats coming up! Take a look & mark your calendars! http://critlib.org/twitter-chats/upcoming-twitter-chats/ ā¦ š
- Plan ahead and add these to your calendar now! #critlib https://twitter.com/violetbfox/status/900433757437652996 ā¦
- @christinemmoe There's also a #critlib iCal calendar that you can add to your Outlook, gmail, etc. calendar & it syncs via MAGIC. āØ http://critlib.org/twitter-chats-calendar/ ā¦
- @msmollyebrown radical empathy in archives #critlib chat will happen on Monday, Oct 16th at 2pm https://twitter.com/violetbfox/status/900433757437652996 ā¦
- This. A lot of the reason that I actively pursue opportunities to work w students & new profs is they keep me fresh. 2-way street. #critlib https://twitter.com/keribrary/status/900432467001266176 ā¦
- Of interest if you took part in yesterday's #critlib chat on mentoring. Or even just if mentoring is your jam. https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2017/08/24/lessons-about-mentoring-those-who-do-it-best-essay ā¦
