Reflections on a Year in the AALL Mentor Program
By Melanie Knapp (mentor) and Alisa Lazear (mentee)
After spending a year participating in the AALL Mentor Program, we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on our experience, share what worked for us, and offer ideas for others who may be interested in taking part in this valuable program in the future.
A Strong Match
From the beginning, we were grateful for how thoughtfully we were paired. AALL staff personally match mentors and mentees, considering each participant’s background, interests, and goals. That attention to detail made a real difference. It felt intentional and helped set the tone for a productive and meaningful relationship.
Though we came from different backgrounds and professional perspectives, we discovered shared values and interests that allowed us to build a genuine, trusting connection. Our conversations were organic and rooted in what we were currently experiencing. Rather than following a strict structure, we allowed discussions to evolve naturally, which made the mentorship both useful and enjoyable.
The introductory email and accompanying resources (icebreaker questions, TED talks, and articles) gave us a strong foundation. While we ultimately customized our own approach, it was reassuring to know we had tools to fall back on.
What Our Year Looked Like
We met monthly throughout the year over Zoom, missing only a few sessions due to scheduling conflicts (as happens!). We initially planned for 30-minute check-ins, but our conversations often ran longer. There was always plenty to talk about!
To help guide our meetings, we maintained a shared agenda. This small but effective practice helped us stay focused, prepare in advance, and capture ideas that came up between sessions.
Example Agenda Items
While we had overlapping interests in areas like library technology, many of our conversations stemmed from broader topics, including:
- Timely issues in librarianship (e.g., AI in legal research, data services models)
- Career path stories: How we each found our way to law librarianship
- Maximizing conference experiences
- Feedback on upcoming presentations or projects
- Organizational structures in academic law libraries
- Cultural recommendations such as online exhibits, books, or events.
- Current challenges and sharing solutions or ideas from an outside perspective
Future Thoughts
While we wouldn’t change much about our experience, we have a few ideas that might enhance the program for others:
- Start with a values conversation. Early on, we talked about what mattered to us professionally. This helped us connect on a deeper level and gave our conversations a shared sense of purpose.
- Create a shared agenda. Agendas helped us prepare, stay focused, and return to topics across meetings.
- Be flexible. Some months our conversations were reflective; others were more practical. Letting real-time professional experiences drive the discussion kept the relationship relevant.
- Bring in outside materials. We often shared articles, conference takeaways, or resource recommendations. These added variety and sparked new ideas.
- Talk about more than just work. Discussing books, art, and personal growth gave us new ways to reflect on our work and made the experience feel more human.
- Mentorship is a mutual exchange of knowledge and often comes full circle. This year, Alisa stepped into the role of mentor herself. The foundation built through this program, along with the opportunity to observe Melanie’s thoughtful approach to mentoring, made that transition feel both natural and rewarding. This experience is a reminder that mentorship is not just about giving or receiving guidance. It is about growing together and, eventually, passing that growth forward.
We’re both grateful to everyone behind the scenes who keeps this program running—and we’d especially like to thank Anna VanDeKerchove for her thoughtful leadership during our match year. Her care and attention helped create a meaningful and memorable mentorship experience.
