When I was selected as a protégé for the APALA Mentoring Program 2025-2026, I felt both honored and excited about the opportunity. As a mid-career academic librarian from the Philippines, I looked forward to connecting with an experienced library professional, expanding my network and gaining new perspectives on academic librarianship. I was eager to learn from someone working in a different cultural and professional environment and to reflect more intentionally on my own career journey. Looking back now, I can confidently say that the experience exceeded my expectations in many ways.
I had the privilege of being paired with Di Zhang as my mentor, an Instruction and OER Librarian at Renton Technical College and an Instructor at the University of Washington iSchool. From our very first meeting, our conversations felt open, engaging, and genuinely supportive. We began by sharing our professional backgrounds, discussing our expectation for the program, and exploring my personal vision statement. That early conversation encourage me to reflect on where I am in my career, where I hope to grow and the impact I want to make as an academic librarian.
One of the things I appreciated most about working with Di was his ability to connect big-picture ideas with practical advice. Whether we were discussing academic and public librarianship, LIS instruction, digital librarianship, leadership, or professional engagement, I always came away from our conversations with something new to think about. Our discussions challenged me to look beyond my day-to-day responsibilities and consider how I can continue to grow as a librarian, educator, and leader.
One of the highlights of my mentoring experience was being invited by Di to contribute to his Academic Librarianship class at the University of Washington iSchool. He invited me to share my experiences as an academic librarian in the Philippines with his students. Because of the time difference between Seattle and the Philippines, I prepared and recorded a lecture that was shared with the class. It allowed me to reflect on my professional practice and present a perspective on academic librarianship that may have been unfamiliar to many of the students. Knowing that I could contribute to the learning of future librarians in another part of the world was truly meaningful.
Another important part of the mentoring process was developing our SMART Goal Worksheet. Together, we identified a goal plan and will coordinate a virtual event by the end of 2026 focused on networking, learning, and community engagement. I appreciated that our mentoring conversations were not only reflective but also action-oriented. Having a shared goal gives us an opportunity to continue collaborating even after the formal mentoring program concludes.
What stands out to me most about this experience is that meaningful professional relationships can be built across countries, cultures, and time zones. Although Di is based in Seattle, and I am in the Philippines, the distance never felt like a barrier. Our conversations reminded me that librarians around the world share many of the same values, challenges and aspirations. The mentorship reinforced my belief that our profession becomes stronger when we learn from one another and exchange ideas across different contexts and experiences.
I am deeply grateful to Di for his generosity, encouragement, and willingness to share his time, expertise, and experiences throughout this mentorship journey. His mentorship helped me see new possibilities for my professional growth and gave me greater confidence in the value of my own experiences and contributions. I am also thankful to APALA for making this opportunity possible and for creating a space where library professionals can learn from and support one another across institutions, cultures, and countries.
The lessons, encouragement, and professional connection that grew from this experience will continue to have a lasting impact on my professional journey. Grateful for the opportunity to have learned from my mentor and to be part of a community that values mentorship, collaboration, and lifelong learning. I look forward to carrying these experiences forward in my work and continuing to build on the relationships and insights gained through the APALA Mentoring Program.
Bio: Mary Rose V. Navarro is a mid-career academic librarian, educator, and researcher from the Philippines. She currently serves as Head of Reader’s Services and Graduate & Law Librarian at the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, where she also teaches Library and Information Science courses. With nearly eight years of professional experience, her work focuses on academic librarianship, digital librarianship, information literacy, Open Educational Resources (OER), library leadership, and emerging technologies in libraries. Her research interests include artificial intelligence (AI) applications in libraries, smart technologies, data analytics, digital transformation, library management, and innovation in information services. She has presented and published research at national and international conferences and has served as a keynote speaker, presenter, and guest lecturer, including at the University of Washington Information School. An active advocate for professional development and collaboration, she currently serves as President of the Librarians’ Association of Biñan. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys traveling, exploring new destinations, hiking and mountain climbing, staying active through sports and outdoor activities, and discovering new cultures and experiences.