Mentoring projects completed in Wisconsin from 2000 to 2002 in public libraries, museums, local historical societies, and other institutions have shown that the following pointers can make a positive difference in mentoring:

• Institutions need to make best use of mentors' time before the first visit:
  
  • know your community's needs; know where your collections are if they are stored in a variety of locations
    
  • between visits: work toward the goals identified be prepared with questions that came up since the last visit
    
    
• Mentors need to be ready to use institution's time effectively:
  
  • Ask for written descriptions of the institution's mission, collections, facilities, and services
    
  • Get further information from the institution's staff and administrator

B. Realistic Goals

• Use the assessment process to determine resources. Identify the institution's budget, staff, and volunteer force, as well as the mentor's available volunteer time.

• Use the planning process to establish reasonable, attainable goals; distinguish short-term from long-term goals for improving care of historical records.

• Consider realistic options: just because something has “always been done that way” doesn't mean that it can't (or shouldn't) be changed

A. Complementary Sources of Assistance

•  Use the On-line tool kit developed for the grant-funded mentoring program

•  Look on the Internet for introductory archival management information and for other tool-kit sites

•  Learn about the published manuals, workshops, and other service available from professional archival associations

B. Good Communications

•  Mentors and staff should take every opportunity to get to know each other's interests

•  Staff should keep repository administrators well informed of the mentoring work

•  Don't be afraid to ask questions and clarify issues

•  Use the phone, fax, and e-mail to keep the lines of communication open and the mentoring work on track

•  Publicize the accomplishments and results of mentoring:

• to the institution's users, donors, governing board, and community;
  
• to the mentor's supervisor, employing institution, and professional colleagues and peers.