A Survey on Mentorship in the Library Profession in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

Mentorship is not a novel concept to professional institutions of which libraries are a part. Programs have been either formal or informal based on institutional needs. Globally in libraries mentorship programs are seemingly commonplace. It is seen as important in succession planning and equipping the next generation of librarians with the tools necessary to ensure the survival of the profession. It is the view that knowledge gained from classroom study is insufficient for early career librarians to function effectively in the workplace. It is believed therefore that there are particular skill sets that can only be learned from practical experience. Hence the need for a mentor to pass on this knowledge. There is little information on mentorship among Caribbean Library professionals, and even less is known about the practice of mentorship in Trinidad and Tobago. How prevalent is mentorship in Caribbean Libraries and more specifically among Trinidad and Tobago library professionals?

Keywords:

• Caribbean
• developing countries
• libraries
• mentoring
• mentorship
• Trinidad and Tobago