Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific

Innovation & Business Improvement

Next Intake: 5 Jul 2027 (Mon)

Intermediate
Short Courses

Please submit your interest and required documents for the programme here.

Kindly note that all submissions will be reviewed, and only short-listed participants will be invited to register.

This programme is conducted on-campus.

Next course starts on

5 Jul 2027 (Mon) See Full Schedule

Fee

SGD1,320.00* Learn More

Duration

5 days
Weekdays (9am - 5pm)

Note: Compulsory onboarding on 4 Jul 2027, Sunday

Level

Intermediate

Who Should Attend

Early to mid-career librarians and/ or librarians nominated by their institutions as having high potential.

PREREQUISITES

Applicants must declare that he/ she/ they are able to fund all other costs that are involved in attending the Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) e.g., all other hotels travel and subsistence expenses including insurance where applicable etc.
Please submit your interest and required documents for the programme here. Kindly note that all submissions will be reviewed, and only short-listed participants will be invited to register.
Applicants must be eligible to obtain a visa for travel and comply with the existing COVID-19 protocols in the host country or institution (if applicable).

Overview

Are you an emerging leader wanting to lead digital libraries? Or curious about the latest trends in digital libraries? Do you enjoy learning in small groups, sharing best practices, case studies and library visits?

Digital Libraries exist symbiotically with traditional physical libraries creating an ecosystem of hybrid services built around innovation and creativity. Leading the digital library requires the ambidexterity to keep up to date with trends and development and be a catalyst to lead change management. Recently, academic libraries have embraced the pandemic with resilience and have become champions of agility in transforming their services through strong leadership.

Developed in collaboration with SMU Libraries, the Emerging Library Leaders’ Summer School for Asia-Pacific (ELLSSA) is curated as a bespoke programme for selected participants across the Asia-Pacific.

Hear more stories from the 2025 ELLSSA participants:

Knowledge Partner

About SMU Libraries

Central to SMU’s city campus, SMU Libraries are places of discovery and are active environments that inspire and educate. The Libraries contribute to the research, teaching, and learning needs of the SMU community through two physical libraries, Li Ka Shing Library and Kwa Geok Choo Law Library and via digital services.

Sponsorship Partner

SMU Libraries, with the generous sponsorship by our business partners, offers a limited number of “Named Scholarships” for Librarians from these ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Each sponsorship covers tuition fees, course material and meals listed in the programme. The sponsorship does not cover airfare, accommodation and other personal costs which are at participants’ own expense.

Learning Objectives

The objective of the programme is to share knowledge, provide insights and learn with other librarians to embrace the digital transformation of their libraries.

Instructional methods will include lectures, group work, case studies and discussions, debates, and library visits. Participants benefit from a mentoring programme where they will be assigned a mentor.

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to: