Mentoring

The award recognizes a more experienced library employee (mentor) for taking a special interest in the development of a newer library employee (mentee). This relationship should include some or all of the following:

• Actively building a cooperative, guiding, and nurturing relationship with the mentee;
• Providing opportunities for the mentee to learn how the UGA Libraries works and to gain valuable insight into some of the unspoken subtleties of the organization or the institution in a safe and nurturing environment;
• Passing on valuable lessons, knowledge, and attitudes to the mentee;
• Serving as a teacher, trusted counselor, loyal advisor, or a coach;
• Sharing ideas and opportunities for growth (training, professional/staff development), and
• Encouraging a mentee to develop to his/ her fullest potential.

Ruta Abolins - Media

Ruta Abolins has contributed in no small part to the culture of mentoring that takes place here at the UGA Libraries through her strong work ethic, respect for fellow staff and patrons, and helpfulness that serve as an example for others. She influences people in their careers with her enthusiasm for her own job and has often shared her own experience and knowledge with both colleagues and patrons. Ruta provides insightful advice that has aided many individuals in thinking carefully about how decisions have bearing on not only their career but personal life, as well. She reminds those around her that it’s important to balance the professional side of life with the personal in order to be successful in both. Her leadership by example shows how one can embrace new technologies and techniques for more effective librarianship and her guidance helps many learn the ins and outs of life in the Libraries. Beyond all of these things, Ruta takes the time to carefully cultivate relationships with Libraries’ personnel in order to encourage them to become better employees and work to their fullest abilities and potential. By creating a secure, open environment, she fosters a culture of confidence, self-reliance, competency, and good will that allows a new generation of librarians to grow and flourish.

Ruta Abolins - Media

Ruta Abolins is very supportive of people who generate new ideas, and encourages her staff to approach her with ideas or suggestions about how things can be done better. She recognizes that an environment conducive to positive instruction, mentorship and professional growth are part of the basic tenets of librarianship. More importantly, though, she understands these concepts at very human level--the cultivation and retention of any good relationship requires that both parties interact with decency and dignity.

She is no pushover—she expects those around her to work efficiently, and to hold themselves accountable. She is very serious about ensuring that neither her staff nor colleagues advance their own interests at the expense of their patrons or colleagues. Always open and generous when asked for advice, she is as good and gracious to her peers as she is encouraging to potential libraries professionals.

She also continues to develop her knowledge and skills--certainly, an important area in which she expects herself and others to "keep up" is with technical training. But she also recognizes the need for LIS professionals to step away from what is familiar and to meet patrons or potential patrons at -their- point of need by participating in outreach activities--not only with professional LIS organizations, but also with the members of our local communities, and across UGA's academic silos

Her active participation in organizing Home Movie Day in Athens Clarke County has created visibility, goodwill, and potential donors to the Media Archives. Her excellent communication skills and unassailable good nature benefit her wherever she is in a position to have to negotiate: with the University Architects, with the Grady College of Journalism, on the many UGA Libraries committees upon which she is called to serve, or any place she is expected to be.

Ruta embodies the spirit of library service and true mentorship in her own quest for professional growth, which she extends in the most profound ways to her patrons and colleagues.

Her energy and enthusiasm for people--during a telephone call, a hello in the hallway, or a friendly chat in the first few minutes of a meeting re-energizes those around her, and make others -want- to be a part of her team.

Her recognition of the contribution of all members of her area boosts the morale of her employees, and only make them want to please her more.

She is a mentor and a mensch, and a real beacon of goodwill for the LIS profession.

Libraries Faculty Committee on Professional Development and Research - Sarah Ricker, Chair, Lynn Cahoon, Eric Griffith, Marilyn Healey, Kristin Nielsen, Hallie Pritchett, and Ian Thomas

I am very proud to nominate the Libraries Faculty Committee on Professional Development and Research for the mentoring award.  In a slight twist to what one might usually nominate a mentor for, I am nominating this group for their work in creating a whole PROGRAM that provides mentorship for new librarians and archivists.

The UGA Libraries has a long history of hiring new professionals.  This is a wonderful way to continue to bring creativity and new ideas into the organization.  For the new professional, though, it can sometimes be daunting to come into a new organization and just jump into the fray!  It can also feel somewhat isolating to be in one department, head down, working hard, and not have the opportunity to get to know others around the organization or outside one's immediate "space". One can get a narrow view and perspective.

The PDRC has worked on providing a mentoring program for some time.  There was some success with our mentoring database, but it was found that this required maintenance to keep it current and also called upon the new employee to take the lead in the mentoring process.  Ultimately, it wasn't the best fit with our needs.

The new mentoring program the PDRC devised is described at http://www.libs.uga.edu/profdev/newmentor.html.  The Committee did a call for mentors and paired new members with "senior" members.  The committee provided a session for mentors and mentees to meet and socialize and will follow up with them occasionally.

Although still in its first year, I have already heard several mentees comment positively on having someone outside their department to meet with and learn about the organization.

The Committee is to be commended for getting this program off the ground and seeing it through its first year so well.  It took perseverance and resolve.

And as for the ASSET Awards, we now have a program that will provide us with many more nominees for this category!!