Yes, you can!

The idea of having a mentor, one person in your professional life that was there to listen and guide you from their years of experience is an invaluable gift.

In 25+ years of working in academic, special and public libraries, I have not had one person I would consider a mentor. I have however had supervisors, bosses, co-workers and most recently staff, committee members and trustees all of whom I would consider mentors.

I have learned from this host of individuals though working for and with them. The mentors who were bosses prodded me to learn new skills, apply for grants and awards. One library director gave me the application for a national public relations award (the John Cotton Dana) on a Friday for a Monday deadline. The application and accompanying publicity was completed though a marathon weekend of work and the library received the award. I would not have done that on my own. Some of my supervisors were good, some were not so good and a few were actually horrid. But I learned lessons from all of them and some of the best lessons I learned were how not to manage based on my experience as the employee and through observation.

Other mentors have been library trustees who challenged me to excel, building committee members who thought outside the familiar library framework and fundraising committee members and a fundraising professional who guided me though new territory with their expertise and sheer will. The leader or mentor who says “yes, you can” or even stronger “yes, you will” when they know you are up to the task is a powerful force. Having a guide help lead and prod you in your professional life is a real gift. These people have helped make me a better person and certainly a better librarian. I would urge all librarians who have the opportunity to be mentored and relish it.

--Owen Smith Shuman, Director, Groton (MA) Public Library

Still learning after all these years...

Library mentors, formal and informal, have taught me some of the most important skills. My children’s librarian helped me to see that the library is full of possibility. Others have taught me to listen, to practice courage, to question, and to be flexible, a skill I’m still working on. I didn’t always realize what was going on during the mentoring relationship, but today I truly appreciate the investment of time and care my mentors made. - Carolyn Noah, Central MA Regional Library System

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