What Is the REFORMA Mentoring Program?
The REFORMA board approved a program at ALA Midwinter 2000 to assist Latino Spectrum Scholars in their graduate programs and with job searches. Four mentors and four Spectrum Scholar protégés applied to take part in the first year of the REFORMA/ALA Spectrum Latino Mentoring Program. The Mentoring Committee paired mentors and protégés based on the interests and professional goals listed on their application forms, as well as their geographical location. Participants responded to a midterm evaluation in June, 2001. The protégés’ evaluations demonstrated that mentoring has had a significant influence on them, while the mentors’ evaluations showed some uncertainty as to whether their mentoring had a beneficial impact on their protégés. During the initial six months of the program, mentors and protégés kept in touch primarily via e-mail. All participants responded that the time commitment was working well for them and that contact by e-mail is both convenient and timely. Some men
