DLA

If you are looking to connect and network with a Delaware librarian who has been working in the field for several years – please consider signing up! This program is designed to address questions brought up by you about areas of librarianship you want to learn more about. We strive to connect you with a mentor who can speak about areas that you are interested in! That could be collection development, work/life balance, applying to grants, communication, etc.

If you have been working in libraries for a few years and can speak to any experiences and skills (either within your type of library or outside) – please consider signing up! We are looking for mentors in all types of libraries – public, academic, school, and special!

This program is designed to address questions brought up by individual mentees, but we do provide monthly talking points to focus on if that helps to guide the conversation.

The official program will start October 1st and will run monthly through May 31st.

Although it is a monthly commitment, the meeting times/dates are determined by the mentee and mentor. These meetings can either be on Zoom or in-person depending on how close in distance pairs are to each other. It’s up to you!

In addition, mentors are expected to attend a short onboarding session via zoom on Friday, October 9th at 10:00am and a wrap up meeting in April. Mentees are expected to attend two meetings with cohort members on October 9th at 10:30 and the wrap up meeting in April. These meetings will take place on Zoom – details will be shared when the dates get closer.

Applications are due by September 18, 2026 to be considered for this upcoming cycle. This is not a rolling program, although applications will be accepted throughout the year and held until the following year if not received by the deadline. You will be contacted the week of October 5th with information on matches and start of the program information.

If you indicated a willingness to be a mentor in the past, you do not need to fill out another application unless there have been significant changes to your career. If you are no longer interested or able to be a mentor, please contact the planning committee.