Article 8: Developmental Relationships in the Dynamic Library Environment

Murphy, S. (2008). Developmental relationships in the dynamic library environment: Re-conceptualizing mentoring for the future. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 34(5), 434-437.

Libraries are shifting from focusing on physical pieces to focusing on learning outcomes for library users. Library-oriented career paths are no longer well-defined and work relationships beyond hierarchical mentoring need to be considered to support new workers through this change. Currently, the literature emphasizes formal mentoring, despite research indicating informal mentorship is more effective. Information is often subtly transferred from person to person; informal mentoring recognizes this and capitalizes on learning through stories and observations. Mentoring in this new environment is a tool to ensure succession planning, to help with future staffing needs by developing mentees into leaders in emerging areas of librarianship. Peer mentoring, informal mentoring, multiple or shorter-term mentoring experiences (i.e. dialogue groups, networks, mentoring circles, reverse mentoring) are all discussed. Mentee benefits include understanding of organizational culture, networking, personal guidance, career development, learning from role models, receiving advice, and development of friendships. Mentors also benefit from learning the mentee’s perspective and actively reflecting on current practices. This reconceptualization of mentoring, as it adapts to changing technologies, is key to the future success of librarianship and libraries.