Moving overseas for work is something many Australian librarians want to do. It’s a wonderful chance to learn about libraries overseas and to be immersed in another culture. Whether for a few months or a year or more, there’s a few steps you can take to make your the moving process easier.

Get your qualifications in order

Not all library degrees are recognised at the same level in other countries. If you are interested in moving to the UK or the US for instance, make sure your qualification is covered under ALIA’s reciprocal agreements. If you are moving elsewhere, there may be less concern about degrees and more emphasis on experience. You will need to research this well in advance if you think it will be an issue - if you have to upgrade your qualifications that’s going to take some time!

You should also make sure you have a complete set of your degrees and transcripts.

Get your other documents organised

The little things can be the most stressful in this kind of move - make sure you’ve got your important documents sorted out like tax records. You’ll also need birth certificates, an up to date passport, and maybe a work visa. Sort out what you can before you arrive as you may need some of these documents almost as soon as you get there. Then it’s one less thing to think about.

Research the library scene

What kind of work do you like to do? What is the job outlook like in your favoured country? Can you live on the salaries there? You may even want to check out the local library association to get a feel for the local issues and to make contacts.

Work out why you want to go, and in what circumstances you will go in

Would you feel comfortable flying off at a moment’s notice if you got a job offer? Or would you rather spend a year planning every last detail? If you have a partner, would you go without them to fulfil your dream? Will you go anywhere, or do you have a shortlist of places you would consider?

Importantly, you should think about what will happen when you get back, especially if you will be away for two years or less. This is not enough time to set up a real home overseas, or to really transition away from the library scene in Australia. You’ll need to stay in touch with colleagues and events at home. You might do this by remaining a virtual member of a committee, or making plans to talk about what’s happening at your workplace or in the profession with colleagues regularly.

Settling in

You might be lucky enough to know a few people in the place you’re moving to (especially if moving to somewhere popular with Australian librarians, like London!) or you might not know anyone. Facebook and other social networking sites can be really great at shrinking the world - putting you in touch with friends of friends who live in the city you are moving to. Whatever the situation, it’s important to get out and meet new people. Meeting new people will also give you the opportunity to experience some of the best things about being in a new country - a level of immersion and understanding that’s hard to get as a tourist.

Read, read, read

There’s lots of great articles about librarians abroad, Robin Kear lived in Kenya, and Nancy Fawley in Qatar. More generally, books like Expert Expat are a great overview of the practical aspects of moving, and the highs and lows of an experience abroad.

It’s a privilege to be a guest in someone else’s country and to get to spend an extended period of time there, make the most of it!