Published: April 22, 2024 by Kesheena Doctor

At the beginning of my MLIS journey, I applied for many scholarship opportunities, including the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Kaleidoscope Program, which I was accepted into. The iSchool currently has five Kaleidoscope Program scholars, including David Castro, Blanca Garcia-Barron, sourav guha, Michelle Sosa, and myself.

The ARL Kaleidoscope Program

The ARL Kaleidoscope Program started in 2000 as the Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce (IRDW), with the program’s name changing in 2019. In addition to tuition assistance, the Kaleidoscope Program also provides comprehensive professional development support, including a mentorship component. As part of the 2022 - 2024 Kaleidoscope Program cohort, I have been provided with many opportunities I would not otherwise have had; I visited academic libraries in Vancouver, BC and ASU, where I was able to network with working professionals, and received funding to attend 2023 International Conference of Indigenous Archives, Libraries, and Museums (ATALM). However, mentorship has been the most important aspect of the Kaleidoscope Program.

Kaleidoscope’s Mentorship Selection Process

My mentor was selected for me through a rigorous mentorship matching process initiated by ARL. I was able to highlight qualities and attributes that I wanted as a mentor and sought someone similar in age, ethnic background, and professional interests. ARL then reached out to their wide network of academic librarians. I was sent an email with a possible match and was given the option to either mentor with this person or continue with the mentor search. I was surprised that the first mentorship match was so closely aligned with my mentorship needs and accepted my new mentor.

My Kaleidoscope Mentorship Experience

My mentorship has been very productive! My mentor has provided me with much insight into the academic library field, including résumé suggestions, networking tips and help with my professional development by informing me of opportunities they think I would be interested in and encouraging me to apply for those opportunities. They have also encouraged me to present at conferences, going so far as offering to co-present a poster at the International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum 2023 (IILF). My mentor currently has been helping guide me through the job seeking process, especially with interviews. Their expertise and insight have been very welcoming as it helped me traverse the LIS program and set me on a great path for a career in librarianship.

Mentorship Reflection with Michelle Sosa

I wanted to know if my mentorship experience was singular, or if other Kaleidoscope Program scholars had a similar relationship with their mentors. Michelle Sosa is an iSchool student and part of the 2023 – 2025 Kaleidoscope Program cohort, and graciously accepted an offer to be interviewed about their mentorship experience.

What has your mentorship experience with the Kaleidoscope Program been like?

Thus far, my mentorship experience has been very positive. My mentor is amazing! She is diligent, helpful, and thoughtful about everything. She always keeps my story in mind, which makes me feel safe and acknowledged. My mentor puts great effort into providing me with as many opportunities as possible, whether it be internships, shadowing, and/or information interviews.

What do you value most about mentorship?

What I value most about mentorship is receiving insights into the field and learning about the resources available to me. Furthermore, the advice and wisdom that a mentor can offer are very important to me because I am a first-generation student.

What qualities do you seek in a mentorship?

I seek honesty, empathy, selflessness, and kindness in a mentor. It is important for a mentor to want to see you reach your goals because this means that they will share everything they can to ensure that you reach those goals.

Do you plan on becoming a mentor in the future? Why?

If time and circumstances allow, I would take the opportunity because I feel passionate about helping others. There have been people who started off as strangers and went on to change my life completely; I am not sure what they saw in me, but I can’t thank them enough for their unwavering assistance and kindness. That selflessness and empathy is what I hope to give back to my community.

iSchool Mentorship Opportunities

The iSchool also offers opportunities for mentorship. INFO 203 is a great opportunity for high school students to gain credit and mentorship experience with their peer mentorship component. Students can also get mentorship with student groups, and mentor with more seasoned iSchool students or receive mentorship from the student group’s faculty advisor. SJSU also has an online campus mentoring platform, SJSU², which pairs students with mentors.

Other Mentorship Resources

Beyond the iSchool, there are many mentorship opportunities in the LIS field. The American Library Association (ALA) has a list of mentorship opportunities. Many scholarships also have a mentorship program as part of their professional development opportunities. Professional library organizations like Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) and Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) also offer mentorship opportunities for their members. A former iSchool student blogger provides a lot of information in their blog on peer mentorship as well.

What to Seek in a Mentorship

If you are considering a mentorship, I have some suggestions for finding the right mentor to ensure that you have a great experience:

• Create a list of qualities you want in a mentor
• Reflect on what you hope to gain from the mentorship experience
• Determine how much time you can spend with the mentor
• Decide how you want to meet: in-person, virtually via email, by phone
• Determine how much time you can commit to meeting each month
• Decide if you want to become a mentor in the future

Though not necessary, mentorship is an amazing way to get professional support and can be very helpful for first-generation college students, BIPOC students, and LGBTQIA2 students. However, everyone can benefit from having a mentor. If you are in a mentorship, please share your experience in the comments below.