Hi! I'm still working on completing my library science degree and am happily settled into a library job I love as it is, so I'm not going anywhere fast... but I wanted to throw this topic thread out there out of curiosity, in case anyone has any experiences or words of advice to share. I am curious about the idea of working in libraries abroad, and potential possibilities doing so, because my partner (who is currently a PhD student in a different field altogether) has a more or less standing job offer to do post-doctoral work, of all places, in Germany. He's lived in Germany before and would be interested to move back, and I have never grown out of my childhood dreams of living abroad... but I wouldn't want to just up and move without having job possibilities! Has anyone had experience, or known anyone who has been successful in job hunting abroad in the library profession? I'd be interested in hearing about any experiences, not necessarily specific to Germany or even Europe.

cheers!

:) beth

Hi --

I lived in the UK for a number of years and there are a few tricky points as far as immigration and working in the EU; some countries might allow you to do something of a 'working holiday' (depending on your age) and others will not let you work unless you are married to someone who already has the right to do so. Getting a work permit for most library jobs would be tricky, but is theoretically possible.

I know it's possible to get your student visa changed to a working visa in the UK upon graduation if you jump through the right hoops, but you will have a tougher time going to the EU as a working professional in most fields unless you have at least 10 years of work experience in most cases. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but it will take a lot of research and preparation. You could luck out with an IT job with a multinational that has a German office -- that's probably an easier avenue.

Having said all that, I think living abroad is a great thing everyone should try if they can - I'm very glad I did it and I'd do it again if the right opportunity came up, but it's a lot harder with a spouse/family to consider. Still, you never know!

Lisa

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Lisa Grimm
Assistant Archivist
Drexel University College of Medicine
Archives & Special Collections on Women in Medicine and Homeopathy

I forgot to also suggest looking at IFLA. They have a listserv for jobs that sometimes includes international jobs.

Also, I just saw this:
Duties: Performs work that requires full professional knowledge of the
theories, principles, and practices of librarianship to select,
organize, preserve, access, manage, and disseminate information
associated with public/patron services, technical services and
automation services. Provides reference/research using text and online
searching principles, reader's advisory/selective dissemination of
information, circulation, programming and library instruction,
marketing/public relations, interlibrary loans, and an up-to-date web
presence. Performs technical services functions including acquisitions,
procurement, cataloging/classification, physical processing, and
accountability of materials. Performs automation services including ILS
maintenance, network operations, and workstation and Internet issues.
Develops and implements long-range automation plans for the library
within the parameters defined by the supervisory librarian.

Announced on CPOL Vacancy Board
https://cpolwapp.belvoir.army.mil/public/vabSelfNom/index.jsp under:
Vacancy Announcement Number: EUNAFHJ0802166133A

Point of Contact: USAG Bamberg CPAC NAF Division, 0951-300-8027 /
469-8027, wuerzburg.naf@eur.army.mil
Email resume to: wuerzburg.naf@eur.army.mil

And it reminded me that the army has lots of libraries around the world, and so that's another option for working overseas.

Wow, thanks for all the great responses! All very helpful and provide me - and I hope others considering such moves, as well - with some great food for thought...

Best,
Beth

I forgot to mention one great avenue for overseas library jobs: K-12 international schools. Any international city with an embassy will have designated a local international or American school as offering an education equivalent to what their employees' kids could get in the US. These international schools get regular visits from people hired by the State Dept. and usually recruit internationally. And they often recruit at job fairs in the US.

If you have any interest in working overseas and you have a teaching certificate, consider looking at these international schools. They're usually a really diverse and interesting group of students and teachers, and I hear they pay well.

Somewhere on the State Department website, you can find the list of international schools in every country (except like Iraq).