Mentoring Programme of the Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists and Information and Documentation Professionals

Abstract

The Mentoring Programme of the Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists, Information and Documentation Professionals began in March 2022. The programme was included in the association’s activity plan as a strategic initiative and considered of the utmost importance for the professional development of members in several key areas, such as intergenerational dialogue and knowledge sharing. This paper presents a brief review of the literature on the concept of mentoring, describes the process of creation the Mentoring Programme, and evaluates three editions held between 2022 and 2024, involving seventy members, mentors and mentees. Data were collected via a questionnaire survey. In the final evaluation, 68% of mentors and 80% of mentees gave the programme the highest rating, confirming a high level of overall satisfaction. The results demonstrate that the Mentoring Programme is a valuable tool for the professional and personal development of its participants, with a positive impact recognised by both parties.