Your Passport to International Librarianship

Whether you’re a library professional with decades of experience or a recent graduate in your first position, career enrichment can mean so much more than simply watching a webinar, taking a class, or even attending a conference. There’s a different kind of professional development out there, one that involves travel, experiencing different cultures and new languages, and learning the kinds of interpersonal skills you can’t get sitting behind a desk. Volunteering in international libraries is not only feasible, it’s also the perfect prescription for recharging, renewing, and recommitting oneself to librarianship. In this book the authors draw from their experiences working with groups such as Librarians without Borders to offer a passport to these exciting opportunities, regardless of your career path or what kind of institution you serve. Easy to follow and packed with everything you need to get underway, this guide includes

• an in-depth discussion of what international librarianship (IL) entails, and why its emphasis on collaboration and advocacy makes it such a nourishing form of professional development;
• stories from librarians around the world about their own IL approaches, activities, and experiences;
• straightforward guidance for getting started, from researching IL opportunities to making it work in the context of your job;
• trip planning, fundraising, and cost saving tips for maximizing limited time and budgets;
• advice on staying connected and maintaining momentum after the trip is over;
• ways to bypass the need to travel by volunteering digitally and remotely; and
• detailed information about IL organizations and additional resources.

This resource is your passport to finding personal enrichment and professional development through volunteering internationally.