What is ELLSSA?
The Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) is Singapore Management University Libraries’ (SMU Libraries) bespoke flagship leadership programme for emerging library leaders in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Leadership, succession planning, talent management and career progression in academic libraries are now on the agenda and topics for conversation in many libraries and amongst librarians. The objective of the programme is to share knowledge, provide insights and learn with other librarians to embrace the digital transformation of their libraries.
As part of the information gathering process, an informal survey with the ASEAN University Network Inter-Library Online (AUNILO) members helped craft the following learning objectives or outcomes for the participants to:
- Identify trends in the digital transformation of libraries
- Acquire skills in developing digital transformation strategies
- Develop an action plan to apply best practices within institutional contexts
- Participate in a mentoring programme
A concern for AUNILO members was cost and affordability, especially since it being held in Singapore. To this end, Taylor and Francis stepped forward to become the programme sponsor where five ‘Named Scholarships’ were given to librarians from selected ASEAN countries. A rigorous selection process was put in place where a five-member panel comprising local and regional library heads used a rubric to score the applicant’s motivation statements that enabled the sponsorship of the Scholar’s course fees. The Scholars are assigned tasks to complete that are based on their key learning take-aways from the programme.
The most recent run of ELLSSA in July 2024 attracted 28 participants from Asia-Pacific and beyond.
Keeping Andragogy and Pedagogy In Mind
With all the participants being adult learners it was important to consider characteristics such as learner motivation, self-concept, transferable workplace skills and problem-solving in the learning and programme design. As part of the application process, participants were asked to write a motivation statement and some reflected theirs thus: “My motivation towards attending ELLSSA was like this program is structured in such a way that gives us great insight on developing our leadership skills keeping in a view of library as a profession. And along with that while working with peers who belong from different parts of the world and their best practices to evolve with growing technologies. So those were a few key points which motivated me to attend ELLSSA.” Another participant remarked, “This programme is a perfect opportunity for me to keep up to date with the latest trends and the development in this area, and also it, for me, can be a catalyst to lead the change management in the future at my workplace.” Supervisors also nominated staff with high potential to attend the programme.
Drawing upon SMU’s pedagogy such as small class sizes, experiential learning and flipped learning, the five days were made up of seminars, lightning talks, ‘deep dives’, panel discussions, library visits and an ‘issues’ pitch. Anchored by opening and closing keynote addresses, senior librarians from SMU Libraries shared best practices and case studies which resonated with many of the participants. Some piqued their curiosity to want more from the ‘deep dive’ topics such as managing e-resources, information, digital and AI literacies, research publications, repositories and research impact, UX and more. There was also a lively panel discussion that looked at the opportunities, threats and skillsets required for sustaining the digital transformation in libraries. The panellists were Caroline Pang, University Librarian, Office of Information, Knowledge and Library Services, Nanyang Technological University; Dr Ida Fajar Priyanto, Faculty and Library Consultant, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia; Dr Gabi Wong, Director of Library Services, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library; Elvira Basibas Lapuz, University Librarian, University of the Philippines Diliman; and Joan Wee, University Librarian, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Library @ Singapore Institute of Technology. The discussion was moderated by SMU University Librarian Shameem Nilofar Maideen.
Thinking and Learning Out of the Box
Gene Tan, Chief Librarian and Chief Innovation Officer at the National Library Board (NLB), facilitated an interactive seminar on Getting their attention! Pitching to Stakeholders which was highly rated as practical and insightful as he underscored the power of librarians to tell stories that inform and influence decision makers.
Similarly a facilitator from SMU Academy conducted a customised full day workshop on digital transformation for libraries which challenged the participants to apply models and toolkits from non-library examples as highlighted by this participant, “One invaluable insight I would like to share is that you get to learn about the business model that is [for] something not in the library where our library people have thought but it really put us into a situation [where] we really have to think about how we can apply those business models into our libraries’ settings. I find that very helpful and really interesting.”
Learning journeys allowed the participants to go ‘off the beaten track’, thanks to our Singapore Alliance of University Libraries (SAUL) partnership where they visited and learned more about service innovation and delivery at Nanyang Technological University Libraries, Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Central Library at NLB.
The ‘Issues Pitch’ was an interactive session where participants presented their work-related ‘issue’ or problem and got inputs from their peers as they drew upon their learning throughout the week. Participants expressed themselves eloquently during their 3-minute pitches.
The variety of learning activities and approaches resonated with the participants as one of them remarked, “Through the whole seminars, discussions, and the sharing sessions actually teach me how to be resilient and agile when leading the change management [and] transforming the library services.” Another noted that, “My most memorable [moment] in this programme is of course about the learning approach. This learning approach of this programme is very enjoyable and systematic. So, it is easy for me to understand [the] difficult concept [of] digital transformation So I can make it, that innovation, that can [be] implemented in our library after this [event].”
Keeping ELLSSA Alive
What makes ELLSSA different from other programmes is the mentoring programme where each participant is assigned an experienced senior librarian or library leader from a pool of mentors from within SMU Libraries, other IHLS in Singapore, volunteering AUNILO member libraries and retired librarians. The matched mentor and mentee work on the ‘issue’ they had identified to provide guidance and advice. From the feedback it was noted that many participants had not had a mentor before and having one through the programme proved invaluable as shared by this participant, “My driving force for attending ELLSSA is the mentorship opportunities as I really [look] forward to receiving expert advice from experienced professionals in the field enabling me to develop and implement strategic strategies to our institution’s unique needs.” The mentoring programme played a very significant part in making ELLSSA a unique programme where each participant was matched with a mentor.
Some go beyond to focus on career paths and progression which has already being yielding results as evidenced by this participant, “I’m happy to share that I’ve been promoted at work and have now assumed the position of Deputy University Librarian for Special Collections. It’s an exciting new chapter, and I’m looking forward to the challenges and opportunities it brings.”
Another unique feature of the programme is that all participants are issued a digital badge which can be displayed on social media platforms such as LinkedIn and this amplifies their professional profiles. There are many more success stories we hear via the Summer School Alumni WhatsApp group which keeps everyone updated. This clearly demonstrates that ELLSSA is creating meaningful impact and creating the next generation of emerging library leaders in the Asia-Pacific.
SMU Libraries will be having its third run of ELLSSA from 7-11 July 2025. If you would like to know more, you could explore this website Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific | SMU Academy or email rajen@smu.edu.sg.
Contributed by:
Shameem Nilofar
University Librarian, Singapore Management University (SMU) Libraries
Rajen Munoo
Advisor, Learning Programs and Global Relations, SMU Libraries
Programme Manager, ELLSSA
Tay Mui Yen
Senior Manager, Partnerships & Branding, SMU Libraries