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I think that's why it's important we try more for 1-on-1, but that means having people who know the "regulars" (i.e. non-newbies). So it might go something like this: * everyone interested would sign up * a (committee/organizing) group would match people up * for any newbies leftover, the organizing group would ask individual "regulars" if he/she would be willing to mentor/buddy with a particular newbie who's interested in learning something they have to offer It's then up to people to set aside a time to meet. The pairing might only last that one meeting, it might last longer, you don't know, but having a specific someone to go to just to ask questions if you have any can already make a newbie feel much more welcome. This was the sort of system we had at our library school. I haven't asked much from my mentor, but I now have a contact at another university library who has expanded my network and my comfort zone. On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 9:19 AM, Becky Yoose <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Some observations about conference-y stuff: > > - Newcomer dinner groups tend to see a disproportionate n/v ratio, even > with some prodding to get more established members to participate and > disperse themselves out in the groups. Then again, I can't make things > mandatory, lest I get pelted with book snakes. > - Since 2009, I've noticed that the number of first time attendees range > between over 1/3 to roughly 1/2 of the conference crowd. [1] > - Even when it's not their first code4lib conference, people at their > second or third conference still identify as newbies, so these folks might > not be comfortable being mentors quite yet... > > [1] Count taken from raised hands when asked the annual "How many > code4libcons you've attended" question > > Thanks, > Becky, uncaffeinated > > On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 8:33 PM, Cynthia Ng <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > >> Getting traction for mentoring online is always difficult, but what >> about starting that mentorship at code4libcon? >> >> Maybe almost like a buddy system, so that the first meeting between a >> mentor and mentee is at a code4libcon (national, regional, or >> otherwise) if possible. >> >> This might simply be a good idea for first timers who are not going >> with colleagues too. >> >> Just throwing out some ideas here... >> >> On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 7:49 PM, Nick Ruest <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> > Matt McCollow proposed something like this a while back. We have a page >> up >> > and everything! But, it never got much traction. >> > >> > http:[log in to unmask] >> > http://wiki.code4lib.org/index.php/Mentorship >> > >> > -nruest >> > >> > On 12-11-27 07:30 PM, Bess Sadler wrote: >> >> >> >> +1 to this idea. I have benefited tremendously over the years from kind >> >> people taking me under their wings. Many of us try to do this >> one-on-one, >> >> but some kind of introduction service would be a huge benefit for the >> >> community, I would think. >> >> >> >> Mentorship is a great example of a robust solution - a solution that >> >> addresses more than one problem at once. I suspect that this would not >> only >> >> improve our diversity as a community, it might also solve some tech >> >> leadership / succession planning problems and maybe expose some training >> >> needs. >> >> >> >> Bess >> >> >> >> On Nov 27, 2012, at 4:20 PM, Nathan Tallman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >> >> >> >>> This is a slightly different topic, but relates to Kelley's post: Does >> >>> code4lib have a mentor program where more inexperienced geeks can pair >> up >> >>> with someone to guide their development? I don't have anyone like that >> in >> >>> my network, but would really like to. I don't mean to discount the >> >>> existing >> >>> resources on code4lib or this list, which both have been very useful. >> I'm >> >>> sure I could just start by attending some of the conferences, but for >> >>> more >> >>> inexperienced people they can be a bit intimidating, albeit inspiring. >> >>> >> >>> It would also be a way to directly engage minorities. >> >>> >> >>> Just a thought. >> >>> >> >>> Nathan >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> On Tue, Nov 27, 2012 at 6:20 PM, Kelley McGrath <[log in to unmask]> >> >>> wrote: >> >>> >> >>>> I'll second the idea of approaching people individually and explicitly >> >>>> asking them to participate. It worked on me. I never would have >> written >> >>>> my >> >>>> first article for the Code4Lib Journal or become a member of the >> >>>> editorial >> >>>> committee if someone hadn't encouraged me individually (Thanks >> >>>> Jonathan!). >> >>>> >> >>>> It would also be good to find a way to somehow target the pool of >> >>>> lurkers >> >>>> who maybe aren't already connected to someone and get them more >> >>>> involved. >> >>>> >> >>>> As far as anonymous proposals go, we recently had a very good workshop >> >>>> on >> >>>> implicit bias here. Someone brought up that found significant changes >> in >> >>>> the gender proportions in symphony orchestras after candidates started >> >>>> auditioning behind screens. There are also lots of studies about the >> >>>> different responses to the same resume/application depending on >> whether >> >>>> a >> >>>> stereotypically male/female or white/black name was used. Probably >> it's >> >>>> impossible to make proposals completely anonymous, but it would be an >> >>>> interesting experiment to leave off the names. >> >>>> >> >>>> Kelley >> >>>> >> >>>> PS Interestingly, I wouldn't instinctively self-identify as a member >> of >> >>>> the Code4Lib community, although my first thought is that that has >> more >> >>>> to >> >>>> do with not being a coder than with being a woman. >> >>>> >> >>>> >> >>>> ************************** >> >>>> Kelley McGrath >> >>>> Metadata Management Librarian >> >>>> University of Oregon Libraries >> >>>> 1299 University of Oregon >> >>>> Eugene, OR 97403 >> >>>> >> >>>> 541-346-8232 >> >>>> [log in to unmask] >> >>>> >> > >> > -- >> > -nruest >>