ALIA Mentoring Scheme

Have you wished there was an LIS professional in your life who you can turn to for guidance and insight? Are you new to the sector or wanting to move into a different LIS sector or a more senior role? Do you have the ability and desire to learn new things about your practice and yourself? Do you want to build your professional network? Or alternatively are you an experienced professional who would like to share your expertise and give back to LIS community?

Applications for the 2023 intake of the ALIA Mentoring Scheme are now open and will close on 23 June. 

What is the mentoring scheme?

The ALIA Mentoring Scheme is a formal structured mentoring relationship that creates professional partnerships and provides ALIA Members with access to the wisdom and expertise of LIS professionals. The scheme matches experienced LIS professionals (mentors) with upcoming LIS professionals (mentees). The mentor helps the mentee develop their own goals and skills through a series of time-specific, confidential, one-on-one contacts (either virtual or face to face), supported by resources from ALIA. The scheme is designed to assist those seeking opportunities for career and professional development and keen to widen their knowledge base and professional connections.

 It doesn't matter if you are a student or new graduate, early or mid-career - you might even be in a long time LIS professional at the top of your game - a mentoring partnership can benefit you at any stage!

How long does the scheme run for?

Each intake runs for 12 months and ALIA provides ongoing support to both mentees and mentors throughout this time. Applications for the 2023 intake are open until Friday 23 June 2023.  The ALIA Education Team will then match applicants into partnerships, sometimes further seeking appropriate mentors, and notify applicants of their partnerships prior to the launch of the program.  The scheme will run until June 2024, however we know that many of our participants choose to maintain a professional connection or friendship at the conclusion of the formal program.

When does the scheme start?

This year's scheme will launch at 1:00PM AEST on Thursday 20 July with an introductory webinar. The webinar will provide an overview of the structure of the ALIA Mentoring Scheme, mentor and mentee roles and responsibilities, and how to get the most out of your time with your mentor or mentee.

Information for mentees

Should I be a mentee?

Are you prepared to make a commitment to invest in your professional life?  Do you have the time to spare, the willingness to communicate, and the capacity to build a professional relationship with an experienced LIS professional? Mentorship is a great way to learn about yourself, identify areas for professional development, work towards goals, networks. Hours spent participating in the scheme can all count towards the ALIA Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Scheme!

'I cannot thank you enough for the mentor you matched me with. It has been a wonderful 12 months of learning and sharing. You cannot put a price on this kind of experience. It is amazing to see how diverse the library sector is an the strength of library services, not just here in Australia, but globally.'

How will I be supported? 

ALIA supports you in a structured mentoring program that each pair can tailor to suit their specific goals and needs. It includes the following:

• Matching of mentees and mentors and support in forming the partnerships
• ALIA Mentoring Scheme Workbook and ALIA Career Development Kit
• Themed monthly webinars
• The CPD Logbook to record reflections - open to all ALIA personal Members
• A Certificate of Participation 

An ALIA staff member is always on hand to pick up the phone/answer an email should anything go awry or some additional support be needed. 

How much does it cost?

Mentees will pay a cost of $170 for the 12-month program. All participants must be ALIA Personal Members (student, general or professional) and it is fine to apply for membership at the same time as you apply for the program. You will not be billed until the partnership is underway.

What non-financial resources will I need?

A mentee should make a minimum time commitment of around three hours each month - one hour for contact and two hours to prepare for your time with your mentor, watch the monthly webinar and participate on the Moodle.  There is an expectation that the mentee will take primary responsibility for initiating contact and be proactive about their development.

What happens if you can’t match me with a mentor?

ALIA will make all attempts to match and support mentors and mentees. There may be very rare instances where no suitable mentoring matches can be made as the scheme is dependent on self-nomination from both mentees and mentors. If no suitable match can be made, no payment will be taken. 

How to apply

Fill in the application form for mentees and send it to [email protected] along with a copy of your current resume.

Information for mentors

Should I be a mentor?

If you are a mid to senior level LIS professional who would like to give back to the LIS community, foster upcoming talent and be exposed to new perspectives and insights then this program is for you. In return for your valuable time, you will build your mentoring skills, further build your network, and be introduced to new perspectives, practices and areas of knowledge. Mentoring hours all qualify towards ALIA CPD Scheme. 

'I decided to participate in the mentoring scheme because I wanted to find a way to share some of my workplace experiences with others. The best aspect of mentoring is that it benefits both mentors and mentees. I’ve learned a lot from my mentee.'

How will I be supported?

ALIA provides a structured mentoring program that each pair can tailor to suit. It includes the following

• Matching of mentees and mentors
• ALIA Mentoring Scheme Workbook and themed monthly webinars as springboards for discussion
• The CPD Logbook to record reflections - open to all ALIA personal Members
• A Certificate of Appreciation

An ALIA staff member is always on hand to pick up the phone/answer an email should anything go awry, or some additional support be needed. 

How much does it cost?

Nothing! The scheme is free for mentors. Mentors received access to all the supporting materials, webinars, and support from ALIA staff in return for their time and engagement.

What non-financial resources will I need?

The mentor should expect to spend at least one hour in direct communication with the mentee each month. Mentors also often find it useful to tune into the monthly webinars and may need time to prepare and reflect on meetings. It is expected that the mentee will take primary responsibility for initiating contact and being proactive about their development.

Can I have more than one mentee?

Mentors can choose to have more than one mentee per intake. They should consider carefully the time requirement involved in mentoring and ensure that they have adequate time to give to more than one mentee. It is recommended to spend at least one hour per month per mentee contact time, however some mentoring pairs communicate on a more regular basis than the recommended minimum and this should be taken into account when considering whether you could be paired with more than one mentee.

What happens if you can’t match me with a mentee?

ALIA will make all attempts to match and support mentors and mentees. There may be very rare instances where no suitable mentoring matches can be made as the scheme is dependent on self-nomination from both mentees and mentors.

How to apply

Please fill in the application form for mentors and send to [email protected] along with a copy of your current resume.