Hi there, and thanks if you attended our ALA 2014 presentation "Getting a library job in a foreign country: how (and why) to do it and how to thrive once you do"! If you didn't attend but want to see what you missed, here's the powerpoint (and our speaker's notes) from that session.
If you're interested in working in a foreign library, or you've already accepted a job somewhere outside of the US, here's some more info to help you succeed:
How living and working abroad is different from a short visit (or even a long backpacking trip).
Where to find Job lists for international library jobs. Or look at some old listings of typical postings we collected when preparing our presentation.
Recommended Reading list: Books and websites to research your potential country before the interview (and after you've accepted the job)
Before you move over there: The joys of storage units, address changes, getting your documents in order, and deciding what to pack.
Daily life once you're overseas: Voting while abroad, can I keep my Netflix subscription, using re-shippers, alternatives to Amazon when they won't ship to your new country.
If you're bringing a spouse: What their life will be like while you're at work.
If you're bringing your child(ren): What you need to know about schools, nannies and being a working parent abroad.
Staying healthy: doctors, prescriptions and medical insurance.
Banking, taxes and money: Congratulations, you're about to become an expert on foreign exchange rates and amended tax returns.
Culture shock: it will happen to you, if only a little bit. Here's how to deal with it.
Links to other pages on taking a library job abroad or arranging a year-long job swap: stuff we recommend, but didn't write.
Something we didn't cover that you think we might have insight on? Email us or leave a comment and we'll try to answer.
Please note: Lara and Kate's 2014 ALA presentation is focused on American librarians interested in working in foreign libraries. If you are a librarian from somewhere other than the US, we probably don't have any advice to give you on your home country's tax laws, residency issues, etc. but we hope the rest of the information is useful. If you are an American academic interested in working for a foreign university, there's probably stuff here for you too. We're happy you found our page, and we welcome your questions about our experiences working in foreign universities.
BUT: Please don't ask us questions like what's typical pay for a Botany lecturer in Qatar, which foreign universities have the best computer science departments, or how good the private schools in Singapore are. We know a lot about working in foreign libraries and a lot about our host countries of Fiji and UAE, but we're not "Dear Abby" for all things expat.
If you're interested in working in a foreign library, or you've already accepted a job somewhere outside of the US, here's some more info to help you succeed:
How living and working abroad is different from a short visit (or even a long backpacking trip).
Where to find Job lists for international library jobs. Or look at some old listings of typical postings we collected when preparing our presentation.
Recommended Reading list: Books and websites to research your potential country before the interview (and after you've accepted the job)
Before you move over there: The joys of storage units, address changes, getting your documents in order, and deciding what to pack.
Daily life once you're overseas: Voting while abroad, can I keep my Netflix subscription, using re-shippers, alternatives to Amazon when they won't ship to your new country.
If you're bringing a spouse: What their life will be like while you're at work.
If you're bringing your child(ren): What you need to know about schools, nannies and being a working parent abroad.
Staying healthy: doctors, prescriptions and medical insurance.
Banking, taxes and money: Congratulations, you're about to become an expert on foreign exchange rates and amended tax returns.
Culture shock: it will happen to you, if only a little bit. Here's how to deal with it.
Links to other pages on taking a library job abroad or arranging a year-long job swap: stuff we recommend, but didn't write.
Something we didn't cover that you think we might have insight on? Email us or leave a comment and we'll try to answer.
Please note: Lara and Kate's 2014 ALA presentation is focused on American librarians interested in working in foreign libraries. If you are a librarian from somewhere other than the US, we probably don't have any advice to give you on your home country's tax laws, residency issues, etc. but we hope the rest of the information is useful. If you are an American academic interested in working for a foreign university, there's probably stuff here for you too. We're happy you found our page, and we welcome your questions about our experiences working in foreign universities.
BUT: Please don't ask us questions like what's typical pay for a Botany lecturer in Qatar, which foreign universities have the best computer science departments, or how good the private schools in Singapore are. We know a lot about working in foreign libraries and a lot about our host countries of Fiji and UAE, but we're not "Dear Abby" for all things expat.
