Library & Information Science Jobs Abroad

Now that we’ve broadened the list of opportunities, let’s check out some popular locations that might spark your interest. If you’re worried about strong cultural differences, do a quick research on the subject and pick a country whose culture attracts you more. Any English-speaking country is always a great choice, like the United Kingdom or Australia, but what about the countries whose first language isn’t English? Oh, don’t scratch them off the list yet! 

China offers quite a wide range of librarian job opportunities in cities like Beijing or Shanghai, as an elementary or high school librarian at local schools—or why not head librarian at a private international school? And although most jobs don’t require it, some basic Chinese language skills will definitely set you apart from the crowd. 

Italy. A modern flourishing country, with beautiful historical architecture, breathtaking art and fashion, Italy houses the most English-language libraries in cities like Rome and Florence. The Harold Acton Library in Florence is actually the largest English-language library in continental Europe, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy the weekly meetups on Wednesdays; we hear they are a lot of fun!

Germany. The number of international schools in Germany has increased in the past couple of years (thus increasing the demand for English-speaking librarians) in cities like Berlin, Stuttgart, Munich, or Rammstein. If you’re a person passionate about world history, this is the perfect destination for your curious mind, with free access to rare historical editions. Also, check out the Department of Defense schools around army bases, where community libraries are always hiring.