Aspirations and Mentoring in an Academic Environment

This is the first booklength study of women in library education. The authors set out to examine the dynamic social processes and significant relationships--such as mentioning--that have shaped the aspirations and career goals of women faculty in library and information science. Employing a intergenerational sample the authors construct a unique view of the changes in opportunities and gender role expectations in the field. In addition, Maack and Passet apply management models of mentoring and support relationships to the university environment. This leads to an analysis of the kinds of mentoring and peer support relationships that best enable women to succeed, and the authors conclude with recommendatons for ways to foster positive mentoring relationships. Written from a feminist perspective, the volume draws from the work of scholars in women's studies, sociology, psychology, management, anthropology, and higher education. Not only will the volume be of interest to those in or aspiring to a career in academia it will be of use to scholars and students in the above disciplines as well.