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home | study, work, & travel | work abroad | options | information management professionals
Information Management Professionals
Authors: Sarah McNitt and Kristin Hitchcock
This page describes resources for researching international opportunities for
U.S. graduate students, doctoral students, and other information professionals.
Publications listed below are available for your use in the Overseas Opportunities
Office at the U-M International Center.
Study Abroad and Internships
Listed below are some resources to help you get started in indentifying
opportunities abroad. See International Internships for more general information.
Funding for Travel/Study/Research Abroad
While we have tried to put together an extensive list of scholarships
available, not all will be listed here. The U-M International Center also maintains a binder of scholarship information that is sent to the office.
General Guides
| Financial Aid for Research and Creative Activities Abroad and Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad |
Authors: Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. Lists scholarships, fellowships, loans, grants, awards and internships for students, scholars, and professionals pursuing international opportunities. Available at the U-M International Center. |
| U-M International Institute's Guide to Funding and Job Opportunities |
By U-M
International Institute. Provides a comprehensive listing and description of financial support available
to University of Michigan graduate students, doctoral students, and faculty
members for international study, research, and internships. Copies are available
at the U-M International Institute. |
Scholarship and Fellowship Programs
| The Bogle Pratt International Library Travel Award |
Enables members of the American Library Association (ALA) to travel to an international
conference for the first time. Applicants must be members of the ALA who show
evidence of involvement in career-related international activities or scholarship.
Application deadline: 1 January. |
| CAORC Fellowships |
Allows graduate students, postdoctorates, and professionals the opportunity
to conduct research contributing to Near Eastern studies at the American Center for Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan. This program is made possible through Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC) and the U.S. Department of State. The program is open to U.S. citizens. Fields of study include arts and humanities, and natural and social sciences. Fellows receive a salary for 2 to 6 months of study (which includes room and board at ACOR, transportation by a U.S. carrier, stipend, and research funds). Program is available subject to funding. Application deadline: 1 February. |
| Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) Fellowships |
Offers financial aid awards for those wishing to do research in foreign countries.
The offers and countries change from year to year. |
| The Harold White Visiting Librarians Fellowship |
Enables librarians, archivists, or conservators to conduct research at the National
Library of Australia. Fellowships are open to residents of any country, subject
to invitation by the library. Program is not open to candidates who are working
toward a higher degree. Candidates must be interested in describing, listing,
cataloging, or carrying out conservation work on particular collections or studying
the methods and techniques used by the library in acquiring, cataloging, arranging,
or conserving collections. Fellows receive the cost of the cheapest return airfare
to Canberra from their homes and a grant
per week toward living expenses. Fellows are given an office, free photocopying,
and extended library privileges; in return they are expected to give a public
lecture and at least one seminar to library staff, and when appropriate give
the library first opportunity to publish resulting research. One fellowship
is awarded each year and lasts from 3 to 6 months. The application deadline
is April of each year. Application and further information available online. |
| The Harold White Honorary Fellowship |
Also through the National Library of Australia. Candidates must be receiving
funding from other sources and need limited assistance from the library. The
fellowship provides round-trip transportation for the recipient and fellows
are given an office, free photocopying, and library privileges. One fellowship
awarded each year. Application deadline is in April for the following academic
year. |
| The Helen Darcowich Memorial Endowment Fund Doctoral Fellowship |
Provides funding to graduate students who are working on a doctoral thesis
on a Ukrainian or Ukrainian Canadian topic. Eligible to apply are doctoral students
from any country who are ready to complete a doctoral thesis on a Ukrainian
or Ukrainian Canadian topic in the following disciplines: education, history,
law, humanities, social sciences, women's studies, or library science. One fellowship
is awarded each year. The application deadline is
1 March. |
| Harold Lancour Scholarship for Foreign Study |
Scholarship administered by Beta Phi Mu, the International Library and Information
Science Honor Society. One award for a librarian or library student
interested in surveying foreign libraries or library programs, attending a foreign
library school program for a short period of times, or conducting library research
in a foreign country. No formal application is required. Interested individuals
should send a current vita and description of planned foreign study, plans for
using the information gained, and previous international experience. |
| IFLA Fellowships |
The program provides international grants for librarians. |
| Institute of International Education (IIE) Fulbright Awards | The IIE administers Fulbright Awards for graduate study and research abroad. Deadline is in fall of each year. Application and program information
is available online. The International Institute administers the Fulbright competition for University of Michigan students; more information is available from U-M International Institute. |
| The Library Fellows Program |
Co-sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and the United States Information Agency to enable U.S. librarians and publishers to enrich and broaden their career experiences through travel and work abroad. The program ended in December of 1998, but the ALA International Relations Office is working to reinstate the program; they hope to hear about possible funding to reinstate the program. Check their web site for future updates. |
| Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships |
The purpose
of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding
and friendly relations among people of different countries. A variety of scholarships
are available for undergraduates, graduates, and professionals. Year-long academic
scholarship awards vary. Three- and six-month scholarships
are awarded for language study and cultural immersion. Applicants should apply to their local rotary club.
The application process takes approximately one year, and so participants should
apply well in advance of proposed program start date. For more information,
see the Rotary International web site or contact the club in your area. |
| Social Science Research Council Summer Fellowships |
Fellowships available for doctoral students and faculty to participate in a
summer institute and research individually while in residence at the host institution.
Individual opportunities vary from year to year. |
Exchange Programs
Most exchanges are handled by direct
negotiation between interested parties. A few libraries have established exchange
programs for their own staff. A two-page “Checklist for Preparing for an International Exchange” is available online from the ALA International Relations Round Table.
Additionally, there are several international organizations for information
science professions and most national organizations have sections for members
who are interested in international cooperation. Informal contacts may be gained
through these organizations.
International Opportunities and Funding Sources for Librarians
Compiled by the ALA International Relations Round Table Exchanges Committee.
Contains many resources for funding and opportunities for exchanges. Includes
short-term opportunities and funding sources, and list of international employment web sites. Most valuable for experienced professionals.
Volunteer Agencies Recruiting Information Professionals
| The Peace Corps |
Recruits U.S. Citizens for 2 year periods to serve as volunteers in developing
countries. Information Technology is one program initiative. The program
is funded by the U.S. government, and volunteers recieve training, health
insurance, all expenses paid, and a resettlement allowance after
completion of service.
Members of the University of Michigan community or others in the southeast
Michigan region can contact the Peace
Corps office in the U-M International Center. |
| Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) |
A UK-based charity which provides volunteer placements worldwide for a variety
of professionals. They have some positions for IT Professionals and Information
Mangers (Librarians). Most positions require 2 years experience. Americans should apply through the Canadian office. |
Employment Opportunities
While it is possible to find overseas employment in the information and library professions,
securing a job in another country requires a great deal of patience and initiative.
Employment for U.S. citizens is primarily available in U.S. government libraries,
U.S. firms doing worldwide business, and American schools abroad. Be aware that many organizations require proficiency in the local language.
If you find an
international internship or employment opportunity you will need to get a work
permit visa in order to legally work in that country. These are normally available
only through application by the employer who has offered you a job. The employer
must prove that you have unique skills and abilities not possessed by local
citizens. A few programs provide short-term work permits for students, including
AIPT/IAESTE, CDS, BUNAC, and Council Exchanges. See Short-term Work Abroad for details.
The following is a list of resources that may be
useful in your job search. For general information on international careers,
see the International Career Resources available at the U-M International Center.
Careers With the U.S. Government
| U.S. Department of State |
The biggest employer of Americans abroad. Diplomatic-track careers as Foreign
Service Officers, in addition to Foreign Service Specialists and Civil Service
careers (including librarians and IT specialists). |
| USAJOBS |
Federal agency vacancies, including worldwide positions, are listed here in
the Office of Personnel Management's online job posting system. |
Professional Recruitment Services
Job Search Web Sites for Information Professionals
| Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Career Resources |
Allows users to search for job vacancies in the United States and Canada. |
| Australian Library and Information Association Job Vacancies Page |
Lists job openings in Australia. |
| Bulletin Board for Libraries (BUBL) |
Lists some job vacancies in Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom, and other countries (search using “jobs”). |
| The Chronicle of Higher Education |
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| Human-Computer Interaction Resources Network |
A top resource for students and professionals in user interface design, usability and other HCI-related fields. Job bank includes some international jobs, and site links to other international HCI employment sites. |
| LIBJOBS listserv |
This resource is maintained by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) and provides information about employment opportunities in the U.S. and abroad. |
| Library JobSearch-University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS) |
An extensive list of library job websites, professional organizations, and job sites maintained by other schools of library and information science. |
| LISJobNet |
Online recruitment site for library and information science jobs in the United Kingdom.
Sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. |
| Museumjobs.com |
Includes international job listings for libraries and archives. |
| IdeaList.org |
Non-profit jobs around the world. |
| Sarah Nesbitt's Library Job Postings on the Internet |
Best metasite for library jobs. Viewable by regions, including international
links. Well-organized and up-to-date. |
| School of Information Career Services, University of Michigan |
Includes iTrack, a database of jobs and internships maintained by the Career
Services Office of the School of Information, University of Michigan. Sometimes
includes opportunities overseas or with international organizations based in
the U.S. |
| University of Toronto Faculty of Information Studies Jobsite |
Database of jobs searchable by location. International category has mostly U.S. listings, but sometimes has other international positions. |
| University of Northern Iowa Teacher placement services |
Includes positions for School Media professionals, and international positions. |
| The Association of American Schools in South America | AASSA is a non-profit membership association currently serving forty-one American / International schools throughout South America and offshore islands. |
| Department of Defense (DOD), Dependent Schools |
Responsible for the education of dependent children of active duty U.S. military personnel and Department of Defense civilians who are stationed overseas. Jobs are primarily in the Pacific and Caribbean regions and require at least one full year of experience. |
| European Council of International Schools | As an international school membership organization, the European Council of International Schools provides services to support professional development, curriculum and instruction, leadership and good governance in international schools located in Europe and around the world. |
| International Association of School Librarianship |
Informal contacts may be established through this organization. |
| International Schools Service (ISS) |
A private not-for-profit organization which recruits for American schools overseas
(not including Department of Defense schools) in every country except Australia, New Zealand,
and Canada. These are American elementary and secondary schools enrolling children
of business and diplomatic families living abroad. While many schools have a
professional librarian responsible for the library, many teachers double as
librarians. An MLS degree and one to two years of experience working with children
K-12 are required. In the past years, ISS has had requests for as many as 30
librarians. ISS also publishes a directory of overseas schools and a monthly
newsletter Newslinks for those interested in the intercultural educational community. |
General International Job Sites
| Career Builder's International Gateway |
Contains job lead banks for Asia, Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and the UK. Helpful for identifying employment resources for specific regions of the world. |
| Jobpilot.com |
Offers the ability to search for jobs around the world by keyword, or country and discipline. Also offers a resume database, company listings, and an email service. |
| Monster.com International |
As an extension of Monsterboard.com, this site provides job postings for Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Central America, Europe, Mexico, Middle East, and South America. |
| Overseas Jobs www.overseasjobs.com |
International jobs database of positions available in companies around the world. Also provides job search resources. |
Additional Resources
| ALA International Relations Office |
A brief list compiled by the ALA. Includes descriptions and links. |
| Global Info Jobs |
Online and e-mail newsletter about International jobs and career planning for information professionals. Includes some interntional job listings collected
from various secondary sources. |
| Global Reach |
Check out this ALA database to see what international experiences North American librarians have pursued. The database is searchable by country, region, and kind of experience (host, consultant, exchange, etc.). Entries have a description of the experience and contact information for that librarian. |
| Lists for Librarians Interested in International Librarianship |
Includes the International Relations Roundtable and geographic-specific discussion groups. |
Last reviewed: 2/08
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