Pairing Up: Peer mentorship offers approach to retaining librarians of color

Research across many fields has shown that having a mentor can be crucial for people of color. Mentoring can lead to knowledge, experience, networking opportunities, and increased job satisfaction. One of the most important things mentoring offers is a sense of community and emotional support in one’s career.

 

By Taylor Healey-Brooks and Michelle Lee | May 2, 2022

 

To learn more please visit the link below:

 

https://tinyurl.com/3p2u7ma2

A Career Path for Youth

PLA webinar focuses on boosting youth workforce preparedness and engagement

May 2, 2022

 

No question: The coronavirus pandemic has warped the educational path for today’s young adults, in turn affecting their readiness for the workforce. In the past, many young people have sought out part-time employment in areas such as the food service industry or seasonal employment, sectors that have been hit hard by the pandemic. These jobs not only provided needed income but also skills training in pursuit of college or career readiness. Now, after more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions and school disruptions, many young adults face the necessity of working to help support their families.

 

*Note: Congratulations to Kate Aubin, head of youth services at Providence (R.I.) Public Library who was one of the panelist. 

 

To learn more please visit the link below: 

 

https://tinyurl.com/nhk4bjd8

A Sense of Support: Libraries curate accessibility collections for young patrons and their caregivers

Increasingly, libraries across the country are assembling accessibility support collections to better assist the developmental needs of their youngest patrons, including those who are neurodivergent and have sensory processing issues.

To learn more please visit the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/2s4f6fmm

 

ALA encourages library workers to ascertain eligibility and apply for Public Service Loan Forgiveness waiver before October 31

WASHINGTON–The American Library Association (ALA) encourages library workers with federal student loans to review their eligibility under the U.S. Department of Education’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Library workers in all contexts—school, public, academic and others—with federal student aid may be eligible for the waiver, known as the Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF).

To learn more please visit the link below:

https://tinyurl.com/bdf9shjk

Freedom to Read Foundation Online Symposium

 

2022/2023 NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program

NLM/AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program -- Application now accepted for 2022/2023 class

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and AAHSL are pleased to announce the opening of applications for the 2022/2023 Leadership Fellows Program. 

 

The application deadline is June 15, 2022. 

 

The Program seeks candidates who are emerging leaders in health sciences libraries and who are passionate about the importance of leadership skills and knowledge to the future of academic health sciences libraries. As a leadership fellow, you will join a cohort of like-minded colleagues and become part of a network of fellows and mentors who have gone through the program since 2002. You also belong to the larger community of academic health sciences library directors. The program raises your visibility as an emerging leader within AAHSL and the profession.

 

The Leadership Fellows Program recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching and supporting the mission of academic health sciences libraries, and actively seeks applications from individuals with varying identities and backgrounds. 

 

Both fellows and mentors have reported how valuable the program has been to them for their own personal growth as a leader and for shaping their career as an academic health sciences library director. The program has also had a high success rate with 54% of fellows being hired as academic health sciences library directors or interim directors, and many others being promoted to positions with higher administrative responsibilities.

 

SIGN UP for information sessions where you can learn more about the program, hear about experiences from prior fellows and mentors, and ask questions. Register for Zoom sessions on May 25 (2-3 Eastern) or June 8 (2-3 Eastern) here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/fellowsInfoSessions

 

Eligibility:

Fellows: Candidates for Fellow should have a strong interest in pursuing a directorship in academic health sciences libraries, as well as prior management experience. The program welcomes applications from professionals working in academic health sciences libraries, hospital libraries, or other library-related settings. Applications from qualified minority candidates are encouraged. In its commitment to diversity and inclusion, the program actively seeks applicants from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds.

 

The program welcomes “self-nominations” as well as nominations from directors and colleagues.

More information on program design, the program schedule, and the application are available here.

Please help us continue this successful program by sharing this information with prospective applicants you know; and consider sharing your expertise as a mentor.

 

Please contact the Program Director if you have any questions or need more information: Patricia (Pat) L. Thibodeau, Program Director, NLM/AASHL Leadership Fellows Program, plthibodeau@gmail.com, 919-619-6906.

 

AAHSL Leadership Fellows Program: https://www.aahsl.org/leadershipfellowsprogram

ALA Ukraine Library Relief Fund

 

The American Library Association just launched the ALA Ukraine Library Relief Fund. https://bit.ly/Ukraine-Library-Relief-Fund Money raised will be sent to the Ukraine Library Association monthly to help meet immediate needs for building repairs and critical services to Ukrainian people. Please give if you can.