Mentoring for Success at USM Libraries

The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Libraries are a site where USM School of Library and Information Science students can gain experience in an academic or special library. Over the last few years, librarians supervised practicums and graduate assistantships for students and fellowships for recent graduates. The fellowships were a new initiative in 2022 that provided an enhanced educational experience by using Jimmy A. Payne Foundation grant funds to train three post-MLIS graduate fellows. At Cook Library and Gulf Coast Library, the fellows worked in public services including research services, access services, and collection development. At Gunter Library, a special library at The Gulf Coat Research Laboratory (GCRL), practicum students gained experience by creating reading lists to support the Marine Education Center classes, participating in collection inventories, and updating a database of works by GCRL scientists, faculty, and graduate student. These mentoring experiences give students and recent graduates a boost in their education and career by providing training and opportunities for networking both within the libraries and in the professional realm. Results of these practicums and fellowships have been positive, with fellows and practicum students finding full-time and part-time professional positions.