UTSA Libraries Peer Mentors

Learn more about the libraries peer mentor program.

UTSA Libraries Peer Mentors

The UTSA Libraries Peer Mentors support student success by offering assistance to fellow students while staffing service points, answering questions while roving, representing the library at engagement events around campus and by occasionally assisting librarians in the classroom. 

Peer to Peer Help

Providing help to their peers in accessing library resources and services is the core function of peer mentors. 

Examples

  • Peer Mentors answer a wide range of questions face-to-face during office hours in the Librarian Lab and while staffing the 3rd Floor Roving Desk.
  • Peer Mentors can help you get started with a research project by showing you how to use the Library Quick Search, databases, and research guides.
  • Peer Mentors can help you locate the subject librarian for your course or major and help you schedule an appointment with them.

Outreach

As the public face of the Libraries, the Peer Mentors assist with the planning and implementation of many of the outreach activities and engagement events. 

Examples

  • Peer Mentors help to staff New Student Orientation events.
  • Peer Mentors conduct library tours during UTSA Day and when visiting groups come to campus.
  • Peer Mentors help to staff Welcome Tables at the beginning of each semester.

Collective Projects

Peer Mentors contribute to supporting their fellow students in a myriad of ways. They provide both direct and indirect assistance to their peers by supporting the work of departments across the libraries. 

Examples

  • Peer Mentors serve as "information experts" to other students by running the Peer Mentor social media account on Instagram.
  • Peer Mentors post Rowdytips on Instagram to promote library resources such as course reserves, tech gear, and study rooms, just to name a few. 
  • Peer Mentors create zines for events like, Pizza + Research. 
  • Peer Mentors helped grow and update the Popular Reading Collection through the surveying of fellow students. 
  • Peer Mentors created a display to showcase the new titles purchased thanks to student feedback. 

Individual Projects

Each Peer Mentor brings a unique skill set and point of view to their job. We continue to capitalize on these strengths to differentiate the special projects that each Peer Mentor undertakes.

Examples

  • The development and implementation of the "Library Quest" game for the Peer Mentor Instagram that helped students learn about library resources.
  • The creation of an information guide about library resources for Honors students in the Citymester program.
  • The design and production of buttons featuring the peer mentors to give out at tabling events.