11.00 am 1B Professional Futures MR 10/11

Chair: Eleanor Whelan

Yes, We’re Special – But How Special?: The Futures of Corporate Information

ManagementSue MyburghTwo Different Approaches to Mentoring

New Library Information Professionals: Chardonnay or Shiraz

Gillian Hallam & Carol Newton Smith

Two different approaches to mentoring new library and information professionals:

Chardonnay or Shiraz?

Dr Gillian Hallam, Queensland University of TechnologyCarol Newton-Smith, University of Western Australia

Chris Gissing, ourbrisbane.com

WA ALIA GUMP

QUT/ALIA Program

Research Project

Methodology

• Literature review

• Surveys

• Individual interviews

• Focus groups

Who are the mentees?

• Queensland– 25 mentees– 12 responses to the survey

• Western Australia– 15 mentees– 10 responses to the survey

Profile of the mentees

M F 19-25

26-30

31-35

36-40

41-45

46-50

51-55

Qld 3 9 1 4 4 1 1 0 1

WA 2 8 2 0 2 0 3 2 1

Who are the mentors?

• Queensland– 25 mentors– 15 responses to the survey

• Western Australia– 3 mentors– 3 responses to the survey

Profile of the mentors

M F 26-30

31-35

36-40

41-45

46-50

51-55

56-60

61+

Qld 5 10 0 6 1 3 1 2 1 1

WA 0 3 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0

Professional experience

<5 years

5-10 years

10-15 years

15-20 years

20-25 years

>25 years

Qld 1 4 3 3 2 2

WA 0 2 0 1 0 0

Potential benefits to participants

• Career related factors

• Learning related factors

• Personal development factors

Career related factors for mentees

• Job application skills

• Confidence in working in the LIS profession

• Benefits of strong professional networks

• Awareness of career opportunities

• Development of a career plan

• Awareness of the role of the professional association

• Getting a job!

Career related factors for mentors

• Recognition of own LIS skills and experience

• Increased job satisfaction

• Challenging existing mental models

• Awareness of issues central to LIS education

• Better understanding of the skills of new graduates

• Further development of own LIS skills

Learning related factorsfor mentees

• Professional role model• Learning from others’ experiences• Gaining specific LIS skills and knowledge• Establishing a practice of self-directed

learning• Identification of own training needs• Reduced feelings of professional isolation

Learning related factorsfor mentors

• Learning from others’ experiences

• Development of skills in reflective practice

• Commitment to lifelong learning

• Reduced feelings of professional isolation

Personal development outcomesfor mentees

• Personal and interpersonal skills, generic capabilities– Communication, Teamwork, Leadership,

Self-management, Critical thinking• Insights into the behaviour of others• Challenging what they might become• Self assurance in the face of new situations• Motivation to succeed in an LIS career• New friendships

Personal development outcomesfor mentors

• Personal satisfaction in another’s development

• Insights into the behaviour of others• Increased sense of self-worth• Self-insight• New friendships• Oral communication

Benefits to individual mentees

• Being able to bounce off ideas/problems with a more experienced person was valuable

• The program offers a great opportunity for those of us who have just, or recently, entered the profession to gain insight and experience from those who know the ropes

• My mentor has helped me make some big decisions, as well as provide me with great suggestions on how to handle issues in my workplace

Benefits to individual mentors

• It’s interesting to see the profession from a different point of view

• This was an opportunity to challenge my own mental model: I now have a deeper understanding of a recent graduate’s experience, perceptions and expectations

• I have gained from my mentee’s technical tips and tricks

• I have gained a great new friendship

General outcomes

Community of practice for LIS mentoring

• WA• Queensland• Northern Territory• South Australia• Victoria

WA Shiraz

Queensland Chardonnay