Thinking about or starting to work on a library-related research project? Could you use some help from an experienced scholar? Consider the Library Research Round Table (LRRT) Mentorship Program!
Whatever your topic, your LRRT mentor will offer support and advice while you develop skills like creating research designs, conducting surveys, collecting and analyzing data, writing your paper and disseminating the results to both the research and practitioner library communities.
Criteria for Mentees
If you are planning research on one or more LIS issues, you’d make a great mentee. Whether you’re new to the field, an experienced librarian, or a student, you’ll be ready to make the most of this opportunity if you have; a) a research question or topic in mind, as well as some idea about the approaches you want to follow, and b) a commitment to pursuing your question or topic in collaboration with a mentor.
About the Mentors
Mentors are experienced LIS researchers who have volunteered to provide coaching and support for one or more developing researchers in one-to-one or small group formats. Their involvement can vary: most mentors serve in an advisory role, while others may choose to pursue some type of collaboration with their mentee(s).
Mentor/Mentee Matching
The 2015 LRRT Mentorship Program Discussion Forum (held at the 2015 ALA Annual Conference) will feature individual and/or small group meetings and conversations between mentors and prospective mentees. This will allow potential mentees to become familiar with mentors, and to learn about the mentors’ areas of substantive and methodological expertise. When mentors and mentees determine that their research interests are compatible, they can discuss how they might wish to develop their professional relationship.
Mentee Responsibilities
Mentees agree to:
● Attend the LRRT Mentorship Program Discussion Forum at the 2015 and 2016 ALA Annual Conferences.
● Maintain contact with their mentor between Annual Conferences.
● Seek the advice and support of their mentor as they develop and execute their research project, ideally to completion; this may culminate in papers for publication in conference proceedings, journals, or for presentations at the LRRT Research Forums.
● Present a brief presentation on their “research in progress” at the LRRT Mentorship Program Discussion Forum at ALA Annual 2016 in Orlando.
● Complete an evaluation form providing feedback on their participation in the LRRT Mentorship Program.
Becoming a Mentee: Application Process and Important Dates
The introductory LRRT Mentorship Program Discussion Forum will be held at the ALA Annual Conference on Saturday, June 27, 2015 from 1:00pm – 2:30pm. If you are interested in becoming a mentee in the LRRT Program, please complete the mentee application by June 3, 2015 (application available here: http://goo.gl/forms/F1OJd6TWNj), and an LRRT Mentorship Program Committee member will contact you in early June.
If you have additional questions about the Library Research Round Table (LRRT) Mentorship
Program, contact Stephanie Alexander at stephanie.alexander@csueastbay.edu.