STS General Discussion Group

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	Issues in Science and Technology   Librarianship
	Winter 2001

	DOI:10.5062/F43B5X4B



      

Conference Reports
    STS General Discussion Group
      Bryna Coonin
  East Carolina University
cooninb@mail.ecu.edu     Kim Lyons-Mitchell
  University of the Pacific
klyons@uop.edu   

      


 

      The General Discussion Group of STS hosted a session entitled "Mentoring in   Science & Technology Libraries" on Saturday January 13, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. in the   Cannon Room of the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. Approximately 46   conferees attended the session.    Panelists included Jay Bhatt, Information Services Librarian for Engineering at   Drexel University's Hagerty Library; Tamika Barnes, Engineering Services Librarian   at North Carolina State University Libraries; Nancy Hayes, of the University of   Akron and Co-Chair of the STS Continuing Education Committee, and Kathleen "Pix"   Fleming, of the Science & Engineering Library at Wayne State University (and past   Co-Chair of STS Continuing Ed).

    Each of the panelists brought a unique perspective to the topic. Jay Bhatt has   been instrumental in developing a mentoring program at Drexel's Hagerty Library   and has also been active in creating the Mentoring Task Force for the Engineering   Libraries Division of the American Society for Engineering Education. He conveyed   enthusiasm for the mentoring process through his presentation and in his answers   to the questions from the audience.

    Barnes, who holds a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North  Carolina at Chapel Hill, was a mentee in a formal program co-developed by the  librarian at the Vesic Engineering Library of Duke University and later by the  senior engineering librarian at North Carolina State University. She credited her  mentors with assisting in her successful transition from support staff status to a  professional in science librarianship. 

    Nancy Hayes described the "Collegial Counsel" activities of the STS Continuing   Education Committee. She highlighted one key aspect of this valuable resource,   the possibility for peer-mentoring, by which established science librarians who   are moving into new areas might find support and guidance. She also outlined   networking possibilities inherent in Collegial Counsel. 

    Pix Fleming closed with observations on "informal" mentoring in a science library  setting.

    Audience comments and questions rounded out this lively discussion. 

      

  

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