The Role of Mentoring in the Leadership Development of Pre-Service School Librarians

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine how providing pre-service school librarians with mentors during their degree program impacted their level of self-perceived transformational leadership potential. The study consisted of 30 participants enrolled in a school library certification master’s degree program emphasizing leadership. The findings indicated that the use of mentors had a positive impact on the leadership development of the participants. Moreover, the combination of the leadership training and the experience of having a mentor taught the participants the behaviors that are desirable in mentors and encouraged them to apply mentorship as a leadership role in their schools.