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On Nov 27, 2012, at 9:33 PM, Cynthia Ng <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Getting traction for mentoring online is always difficult, but what > about starting that mentorship at code4libcon? > +1 - being face-to-face might help ease the tension. Having a sort of "speed dating" setup might help make better fits between mentors and mentees, as well. That is, a roomful of nerds deferring passively to one another might not get us very far :) Something more structured about what people want to learn and what mentors know and how they get along together would probably make for a more productive outcome. -Ross. > 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