Working with Your Mentor/Mentee | Sample Activities | Resources and Readings | Application
As a mentee, what are my responsibilities?
- Available to communicate with your mentor on a regular basis
- Be prepared to reflect on practice and work with your mentor to identify professional goals
- Recognize and maintain confidentiality
- Be open to meeting with your mentee(s) on campus and in-person
- 2-3 hours commitment per month
Link for the Mentee Application Form
As a mentor, what are my responsibilities?
- Available to communicate with your mentee on a regular basis
- Be prepared to model and reflect on practice and support mentees in identifying professional goals
- Recognize and maintain confidentiality
- Be open to meeting with your mentee(s) on campus and in-person
- 2-3 hours commitment per month
Link for the Mentor Application Form
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Mentees
What is the process for selecting matches?
The Library Mentorship Program is limited to a limited number of applicants depending on the availability of matches. The selection process will adjudicate based on the applicant’s statement of interest.
What is the timeline for this program?
Applications will be open for submissions until the deadline of September 31, 2022. After the selection process is completed, matches will be notified in mid-October 2022. The mentorship officially begins on November 1, 2022, and the program will end on April 31, 2023.
How can I prepare for writing my application as a mentee?
You can familiarize yourself with UBC Library by reviewing its website to learn more about new initiatives and projects, Strategic Framework, or upcoming workshops.
I’m interested in either functional or subject liaison librarianship. What’s the difference though?
Here is your chance to learn more about these two very interesting areas of academic libraries! Subject liaison roles have been a constant feature of academic libraries and they typically focus on the delivery of a range of services to particular academic departments of the institution, often including involvement in academic liaison, collection management, and information literacy teaching for those departments. Librarians who are in functional roles tend to focus on an area of expertise rather than a subject (such as open access) and liaise across disciplinary areas regarding this function.
This is an overly simplistic definition as the academic library is changing so fast that there is no hard and fast definition of the two and there is oftentimes an overlap of expertise and duties, especially in a large organization such as UBC Library.
Where can I learn more about UBC librarians’ areas of expertise? Especially functional and subject liaisons?
You’re invited to learn more about the various subject areas of responsibility of librarians by reviewing this list of UBC subject liaisons.
For functional librarians, you might want to explore Scholarly Communications, Institutional Repository (cIRcle), Digital Initiatives, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Chapman Learning Commons, Rare Books and Special Collections, University Archives, Technical Services, and the Research Commons.
Are there requirements for iSchool students?
Students who have completed the iSchool’s MLIS or MAS Core courses (12-credits taken usually in the first term).
Are there any resources that you would recommend for those who aren’t as familiar with mentorship programs?
We have provided a resources page that includes a bibliography of mentorship in LIS. You may find these useful for learning more about mentorship programs. Please find here.
I’m already in another mentorship program. How does this program different from others?
There is a number of excellent mentorship programs available. Some cover academic libraries, public libraries, or a mix of both, and oftentimes are conducted through a library association. However, UBC Library’s Mentorship program focuses on academic libraries within a UBC context. You will be introduced to professional practitioners who are experienced and work at one of the UBC campuses.