Here’s an opportunity for would-be leaders to get some invaluable advice, confront your inner-most fears and ambitions about leadership and do some critical thinking and collaboration on the future of librarianship. In the beautiful Thredbo village you will join up with about 30 other participants and several respected leaders in the profession who give up their time to provide mentoring. One of the great things about Aurora is that you will make contacts from all over Australia and New Zealand.
This is not just a few days out-of-the-office jaunt - be prepared for some challenges - I know.
Applications are now open for the 10th Aurora Library Leadership Institute, to be held in Thredbo, NSW from 15 to 20 February 2007.
The Institute’s mission is to assist future leaders in the library and associated cultural and information industry to maximise their leadership skills and potential. It aims to position leaders to be proactive and effective voices in a dynamic and sophisticated information environment.
Details at: http://www.alia.org.au/aurora/aurora.html
ALIA provides an Aurora Scholarship to enable an ALIA member to attend the Institute where this would otherwise be difficult due to the financial commitment required. Personal financial members of ALIA who meet certain criteria are eligible to be considered for the Scholarship. Further information at:
http://www.alia.org.au/awards/aurora.scholarship/
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July 24, 2006 at 20:11
Hi Peta, have you attended Aurora? What was it like? The only thing I’ve heard (that I remember) is that you need to “be prepared” for a potentially emotionally difficult time - which just sounds gruelling but doesn’t give me much else to work with… What sorts of challenges do you come up against?
July 25, 2006 at 06:41
Mostly the challenges are about testing yourself to act consciously while flexing your leadership muscles, not just react. I think the difficulty is that while we do this some of the time, the week is an intensive period in which you need to do this day-in day-out, and it requires us to put our “niceness” aside, focus on the objective and less on how those around might take it. That being said, participants gain a huge amount of insight into themselves and how they act. Worth the effort definitely. Apart from that I’m not giving any secrets away ;-).
It is actually the safest environment to practise all this in. You are with a bunch of people who are going through the same thing, and in most cases you don’t have an “emotional bank” built up with them as you’ve never met them before.
Although it is a challenging time, I doubt that any participant would regret applying.
Maybe some other Aurorans would like to comment?
July 25, 2006 at 07:08
The best way to approach Aurora is to be unprepared. If the construct and content is known it is too easy to put in place barriers that limit an individual’s engagement with the ‘experience’. You wil be exploring the inner self, learning more about you, your preferences and constraints. I back Peta in saying it is an experience that is well worth the challenge.
July 25, 2006 at 07:12
I attended Aurora in 2004 and was challenged both profesionally & personnaly to look at what makes me tick - the good/bad & ugly (along the way I met some fantastic people & had fun). Since then I have gone through somewhat of a metamorphis - developing a greater sense of self & a renewed vigiour in the profession. I’m better at most of the things i was good at before (apart from spelling) & even though I still have “doh” moments - I get over it, get on with it & continue to make a concious effort to grow & learn. If you have a chance to go, pack your bags & get on that bus.
July 25, 2006 at 09:02
Louise,
The “doh” moments are outweighed by the “aha” moments I hope.
July 25, 2006 at 09:13
As another 2004 participant, I would back up what Peta and Louise said. It’s probably better not to know too much about the content and structure of the course, but know that it will be tiring, envigorating, fun, stressful, poignant, enlightening, challenging and more(especially if you do it while heavily pregnant as I did!). The real benefits for me were getting to know fabulous and inspirational peers from a variety of backgrounds, and having a chance to spend time with some the “leading lights” of the profession (the mentors and invited guests). Aurora gives you entry into a very supportive and innovative sub-set of our profession, and the professional (and personal) benefits last for years afterwards.
July 25, 2006 at 10:05
Just do it! Take a big breath. Jump in and go for your life. It is extremely rewarding. Aurora certainly helped me with my career. A tip, you only get out what you put in!
July 25, 2006 at 10:27
I attended the recent 9th ALLI and it was well worth it. Gruelling, yes. Survivable, very. Beneficial, absolutely. As the brand says, “just-do-it”.
July 25, 2006 at 15:46
And just to prove what Carmel said about Aurorans being very supportive… a quick post to Aurora discussion list and 5 of them jump in and comment on this post.
A big thanks to you all.
Does that help CW?
July 25, 2006 at 19:20
Wow, thanks for taking the time to comment, Aurorans!
I wasn’t expecting so much information. I will definitely seriously consider doing the Aurora thing…
July 26, 2006 at 13:32
Thanks for the comments. I occasionally think about it myself and known a few folk who have raved about the experience. I should get round to giving it a go one of these days…
July 27, 2006 at 14:04
The Aurora stuff keeps popping up at the moment, and I keep looking at it and thinking “it looks cool”. Then I saw the bits about how “The applicant’s record should indicate successful leadership experience and accomplishments. Without being prescriptive it is assumed applicants will normally have been employed for a minimum of 3-5 years and a maximum of 7-10 years following qualification”, which makes me a tad elderly and laid-back, having hived off to be “lazy” in IT before coming back to libraries and only now wanting to get really involved.
And yes, I know they’re guidelines, and they’ll consider applicants from outside those guidelines. Maybe in 12 months …
July 28, 2006 at 14:28
I was 39 when I went. And I don’t think I was the oldest.
July 29, 2006 at 17:49
Successful leadership experience and accomplishments do not have to come from your library work. Begin a new grad I drew on leadership experience from outside the library sector. Just have a go at doing the application.. it helps you develop a good CV, even if you don’t apply.
Also for those out there who are looking at self funding (in full or partially)it’s worth the financial investment!
August 2, 2006 at 10:34
I attended Aurora a few years ago, and did so without really knowing what to expect. People were reluctatnt to share what it involved with me before I left NZ. Aurora affects people differently. You can choose to be more or less involved. I tended to be an observer, but found myself observing my own reactions to situations - actual and hypotetical. These were really great experiences.
I continue to gain from the experience. If you have the opportunity to attend, do it.
August 4, 2006 at 05:58
I was at Aurora in 2005. Honestly, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t reflect and act on something that I learned during those few days in Thredbo. As others have said above, it is best to go without any expectations and be prepared to take on whatever comes your way.
I met some fabulous people (some of whom have made comments above - hi!) and the opportunity to talk with and learn from the mentors is, well, amazing. Most importantly the experience made me feel even more passionate about and committed to our profession.
August 4, 2006 at 11:54
Did Aurora in 2006 it was a great experience. I agree with what others have said. I met some fantastic people and you do really connect as you are working together for a week. It is worth taking sometime out to really think about where you are going and Aurora gives you that space. It is beautiful in Thredbo and I saw a wombat! And meet a ring wrath whatmore can I say.
January 7, 2008 at 13:59
I was the lucky recipient of the inaugural AGLIN Aurora Scholarship for 2008, and after reading the posts above, am very excited about attending this “challenging and gruelling” event, I’m sure I’ll get a lot out of it….both personally and on a professional level.
Nora