_Tri-State Bookstore Association
Mentorship Program

Tri-State is forming a mentorship program.  While the list serve has been, and will continue to be, a great tool for sharing intellectual resources, a mentorship program is more of a one-on-one concept.  If you, or a member of your staff, are new to the college bookstore industry, please consider being involved.  If you, or a member of your staff, are seasoned in the bookstore business and would like to share your pearls of wisdom to help another, please consider being involved as well.

Newcomers to the industry (protégés, or more informally, mentees) are paired with more experienced people (mentors) in order to obtain information, examples and advice.   And, in the informal setting with which this takes place, those involved have a chance to nurture a friendship, gain experience in order to advance in their own educational institution, and even vent frustrations.  In addition, the students will benefit from a more knowledgeable staff. 

For example, if you are the new textbook buyer for your store, and you are looking for professional advice on specific questions pertaining to speculation buying, you could call or e-mail your mentor for advice.  The same applies to sportswear or supplies areas.

The mentor has the opportunity to show leadership and become refreshed about their own work.  

There is a concept called reverse mentorship, where a younger mentor with specific experience in an area educates an older mentee who has more overall experience in life.  An example of this is when we ask our kids how to set up our ipod!  We want to be open to this as well.

Vendors are welcome to participate, as long as they share knowledge of the industry, and not in the specific products they sell, so there will not be any conflicts of interest.

Tri-State benefits because the networking helps further the culture of our association.

If you are interested, please respond to me directly (mabbott@mtmc.edu).  We will try to match you with someone of your store’s size, measured by your institution’s enrollment.

Please provide the following information:

Your title, or role, in your store’s operation
The institution with which you are affiliated and its enrollment
How long you have been in the bookstore industry
Your institution’s POS system
Your institution’s Textbook system

To the success of us all….

Mary Abbott
President, Tri-State Bookstore Association
Director, Mount Marty College Bookstore
605-668-1464