Exchange programs for Librarians

The team of Priscilla K. Shontz, Richard A. Murray and Tiffany Allen is doing an excellent job by posting all LIS career resources that are useful for librarians. Congrats to the team.

And from the same site is an excellent source for exchange programs. I have updated the links in this article: International Librarianship: Getting There from Here by Robin Kear

 Some places to look for short-term positions:

• IFLA LIBJOBS listserv
This listserv lists international jobs, some permanent and others short-term. This is where I found the posting for my internship in Kenya.
• World Library Partnership [link not updated since 2005]
  
• CILIP LIBEX international job exchange scheme
  
• ALA's IRRT INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES COMMITTEE
  The first URL is a librarian exchange program facilitated by the British group, Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals, and the second URL is the exchange committee of ALA-IRRT. Both sites have useful links and ways to look for funding. 
  
• University of Pittsburgh’s Semester at Sea
  The University of Pittsburgh’s worldwide cruising program hires an assistant librarian each semester but you must have professional experience. (The librarian comes from the University.)

Things to Keep in Mind "Living in a foreign country is not all wonderful experiences and friendly people. The choice to work internationally leaves you without a country. Everything familiar disappears, and you miss it terribly at first, but eventually your new surroundings become your home. It is hard to sustain a marriage and family unless your partner has the same type of job or is willing to wait for you to finish your crazy adventures. There is much poverty and suffering in the world and as a resident, not a tourist, you are more likely to see and be affected by these. There are many dangerous places in the world...
Continue reading for jobs, opportunities in other fields, etc. International Librarianship: Getting There from Here

See also books by Priscilla K. Shontz and Richard A. Murray:
See also on the same shelf:

International Librarianship [Fulbright and other exchange programs]

"what are good websites for libriarian international exchange programs?" @ askville.amazon.com/

Google for more

Interpreting Library Job Ads

...from Biblia's Warrior Librarian Weekly:

" ... extensive collection ... "
no weeding has been done for 20 years

" ... maintain archives ..."
several hundred boxes of old papers need filing

" ... multimedia skills are essential... "
we really wanted to hire a computer technician, but the board insisted on a librarian for some reason

" ... must be well organised ... "
things are so chaotic here, someone has to sort out all the mess

" ...stimulating environment ..."
free coffee provided - no de-caff

" ... ability to communicate ... "
everyone is at each other's throats

" ... have appropriate qualifications ... "
that won't be considered in our decision - we just go on gut feeling here . Humor, Much more

To correctly cite this page:
Credaro,A.B.(2002). Interpreting Library Job Ads. Warrior Librarian Weekly [online]
http://www.warriorlibrarian.com/LOL/jobads.html [Accessed:insert date]