Testimonials and Papers

Testimonials about Aurora Institutes
Papers about Aurora Institutes
Papers about Snowbird Institutes
List of Aurora participants and mentors

Testimonials

'Report on Aurora 2007: helping early-career librarians', National Library of Australia Gateways, no 86, April 2007.

Go to top

Go to top

'Energise, Enthuse, Inspire - Wanted: library leaders for the future.' Clare comments on Aurora 2005 in Incite, May 2005.

Go to top

'Leadership - what's your contribution?' (Extract, with permission, from TOUR, The One Umbrella Report, vol 3, no 1, 2002.)  

"I recently returned from one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life. Now that's a bold statement!  

When I was invited to be a mentor at the Aurora Institute 2002 I leapt at the chance. Aurora has a great reputation as the outstanding leadership experience in our industry. It didn't disappoint. Over 6 days attendees, up and comers in the field, and experienced mentors put their leadership, styles, skills, achievements and plans under the microscope. 

How would your own performance as a leader stand up to such scrutiny?  Whilst management skills are acknowledged as critical and there are a great deal of opportunities to study and hone them, leadership skills are often ignored. Yet most would agree that the need for strong leaders in our profession is as necessary as the need for talented managers  . . . " 

Go to top

Liz comments on Aurora 2002 in La Trobe University Library News, vol 31, no 1, November 2002, p. 4.

Go to top 

Lisa Tocker, Participant, 2001
North Shore Libraries, Aotearoa, New Zealand; LIANZA Vice President 2001

"Why Aurora? Tena koutou, you will want to know why those who have attended Aurora might recommend it to others. Well from my perspective Aurora was an opportunity for an experience, and it is often experiences that changes lives, attitudes and your vision of the future.

It was a time to meet colleagues from Australia and Singapore, an experience I loved. It was a time to take yourself far away from your work and home environment and live for four days through a mentally challenging seminar in a physically stunning environment. And by the way the physically stunning environment is just as much a part of the intended experience as the sessions.

It was a time to meet mentors from the library profession and hear their life experiences and vision of the future. Most of all, for me it was time out from the rat race to set myself some actions and goals for the future both in work and in my personal life.

But did it change anything or is the honeymoon effect of Aurora over? Well it did. I have moved on in thinking and attitude, and have met some great people that I hope to keep in touch with.

I hope if you are thinking of applying for Aurora that you do. Applying opens the door of opportunity and will possibly lead to an experience that can change your life if you let it."

Go to top

Semone Riddell, Participant, 2001
Reader Services Librarian, Shellharbour City Library, NSW

"A personal highlight of the Aurora programme was learning about my leadership style through the Enneagram. I found it useful to discuss my leadership strengths and weaknesses with other professionals who had a similar leadership style.

The mentor involvement in the programme was invaluable. In fact, the daily mentor insights were captivating. Hearing about the mentor's career paths, both highs and lows added great depth and that real life element to the course.

Aurora fostered long lasting international relationships, strategic alliances and a professional network of human resources I can utilise as a sounding board for new ideas, problems and support.

The Aurora experience enabled me to view and consider issues and opportunities through an international perspective. The information exchange between participants who work in all types of libraries, and the wisdom, advice and experience of our mentors contributed greatly to the success of the Institute.

My present challenge is to stay mindful of what I have learnt and not pick up the things I have symbolically let go of on the mountain. You may need to attend an Aurora Institute to fully appreciate this concept!"

Go to top

Papers about Aurora Institutes

The Aurora Recall, Auckland, February 2003 Australian Library Journal, vol 52, no 2, May 2003, p. 113-123:

Becky Schreiber and John Shannon. Highlights from Aurora Leadership Institute 2002.  Incite, vol 23, no 6, June 2002: 14.  Also published as 'Aurora Leadership Institute 2002', Library Life, no 269, July 2002: p 14

Kate Elder. AIMA Aurora Leadership Institute, Thredbo NSW, 8-13 February 2001. Report on attendance by Kate Elder, James Cook University, 2 March 2001. 

Richard Sayers. Learning to be ourselves, with more skill: Aurora and beyond. Paper presented at the Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference, ALIA 2000, Canberra, October 2000. 

Aileen Weir. The information professional of the future: what skills will be needed and how will they be acquired? Paper presented at the Australian Library and Information Association Biennial Conference, ALIA 2000, Canberra, October 2000.

Sue Hutley. The Aurora Leadership Institute: one year on - a special librarian's perspective. Australian Special Libraries, vol 29, no 4, Dec 1996.

The First Aurora Leadership Institute, 1995 - special issue of the Australian Library Journal, vol 45, no 1, February 1996.  Papers by mentors and participants:

Go to top

Papers about Snowbird and Leadership

Mark Winston (Ed).  Leadership in the library and information science professions: theory and practice. Haworth Information Press, 2001.
Co-published as Journal of Library Administration, vol 32, no 3/4, 2001

Teresa Y. Neely and Mark D. Winston.  Leadership development and public libraries:  survey of participants in the Snowbird Leadership Institute. Public Library Quarterly, vol 19, no 3, 2001, p. 15-32. [This article focuses on public librarians and leadership]

Laurie J. Bonnici. Creating the Library Leadership Institute at Snowbird. Library administration and management, vol 15, no 2, Spring 2001, p. 98-103

Teresa Y. Neely and Mark D. Winston. Snowbird leadership institute:  A survey of the implications for leadership in the profession, in Racing toward tomorrow - ACRL 9th National Conference Proceedings, Detroit, Michigan, April 8-11, 1999 (Chicago: Association of College and Research Libraries, 1999): p 313-324

Teresa Y. Neely and Mark Winston.  Snowbird leadership institute: Leadership development in the profession. College and Research Libraries vol 60, no 5, 1999, p. 412-425  [This paper has an academic library focus]

Go to top