(5 Mar 2026) SMU Libraries is welcoming registration for the Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) 2026! Here’s a message from SMU Libraries,
“Dear Colleague,
As library leaders, we all want the same thing for our most promising staff: the opportunity to grow beyond what their current role allows.
What does that look like in practice? One ELLSSA participant returned to her institution with a clear vision and the confidence to act on it. She proposed a new Research Support Office, and her Rector approved it. Another went on to become the University Librarian! That kind of outcome doesn’t happen by accident.
It happens when an emerging professional is given the right mentorship, the right framework, and a cohort of peers who push their thinking in ways that day-to-day work simply cannot. That is what the Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) is designed to do, and I’m writing to invite you to nominate a member of your team.
ELLSSA is a five-day executive library leadership development programme hosted by Singapore Management University (SMU) Libraries, in partnership with SMU Academy and supported by programme partners such as Taylor & Francis, EBSCO, Mr Pote Lee and Statista. It brings together early to mid-career librarians from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond for expert-led seminars, topical deep dives, collaborative issue pitches, and visits to leading libraries , all in a small-group setting that encourages honest, cross-institutional exchange.
But what sets ELLSSA apart is what happens after the five days: a six-month mentoring relationship with a senior library professional, structured to help participants tackle the real challenges they face in their own institutions. The impact is tangible. Here is how past participants have described it:
“The programme’s structured approach to goal setting compelled me to think strategically about my career trajectory rather than simply reacting to daily operational tasks.”
“His practical guidance on AI applications in libraries, our meaningful exchanges about our respective library practices, and his generous sharing of industry conference insights as well as his team’s breakthrough research on library-supported application — this mentorship has been a highlight of my professional development.”
“Having a senior leader validate my concepts significantly boosted my confidence, encouraging me to voice my opinions and suggestions more frequently.”
Investing in one person’s development at ELLSSA creates a ripple effect. They return with new perspectives on digital transformation, stronger leadership capabilities, and the confidence to champion ideas that move your library and your institution forward. The diversity of participants drawn from universities across the Asia-Pacific and beyond means your nominee will be exposed to challenges, innovations, and approaches that simply cannot be replicated within a single organisation.
Programme details
• Dates: 6-10 July 2026
• Language: English
• Fee: SGD 1,320 (incl. GST) | Limited sponsorships available from Taylor & Francis, EBSCO and Mr Pote Lee
• Register here [Closing date: 31 March 2026]
For enquiries, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
The leaders who will shape your library’s future are already in your team. ELLSSA gives them the tools, the mentorship, and the confidence to lead , and, gives your library the impact that follows.”
