National Mentoring Month - January

January is National Mentoring Month. Given the library is a popular destination of mentors and mentees, it makes sense for public libraries to recognize their role in supporting these teams.  Celebrate this quiet but important role!  Did you know that the President of the United States issued a proclamation making this National Mentoring Month and that libraries are mentioned in the second paragraph?  Here is that sentence:


"At school and at home, in the library and on the field, mentors lift our youth toward their goals and ambitions.  As a teacher, a relative, or a trusted friend, a mentor's steady and dependable support can inspire a child to strive for success and instill in them the confidence to achieve their full potential."


January 26, 2012 is a special day of recognition of mentors.


Some mentoring programs have found the "Mentor, Mentee: Building Futures, Learning Together" graphic design and have ordered journals to give at recognition events later this month. The design includes an older and younger person comfortably reading together, snacking on m&m candies (mentor & mentee), library card alongside the young person, technology mixed in with print books.  Setting? Looks like a library!

The art includes m&m dictionary definitions:


Mentor: 
a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, an influential senior sponsor or supporter.


Mentee:
a person who is guided by a mentor.

Tribute to Dr. Ken Haycock

Here is a podcast honoring Dr. Ken Haycock, upon his retirement as Director of the San Jose State University graduate School of Library and Information Science.

During his tenure, San Jose’s SLIS grew from an unranked program to #30 in 2006 and #22 in 2009. It was also ranked as the #1 eLearning service provider in the nation by US News and World Report. The comparison charts in the presentation are striking when you see the number of students from across the country.

California is fortunate to have Ken's leadership and friendship, and will miss him when he returns to Canada.  Good thing he will remain active in all sorts of new ventures and adventures.  Best wishes, Ken! 

One of the Seven Wonders - Redwood High School Library

California's Redwood High School Yearbook staff recognized their school library as "One of the Seven Wonders of Redwood". "Wonders" was the theme of the 2008/09 student yearbook. In addition to the school library, other "wonders" included the spirit ball, the senior parking area, the new lunch plaza, new gym and pool, the amphitheatre, and Mount Tamalpais.

Here is what the students had to say about their library: "Always a blessed place in our hearts, the library serves as a resource for students: providing computers, fiction and nonfiction books, and presentations from our librarians. The library is in constant use for studying after school and during lunch. " It's always great getting unsolicited praise, especially from the students.

Kudos to Redwood High School Teacher Librarian and friend Thomas Kahn, an outstanding professional!