No career follows a linear path – there are bound to be unexpected twists and turns along the way. Thinking beyond your early goals, or stepping outside of your current comfort zone, could help open-up new opportunities and build your skills and knowledge across a broader field. And for School Librarian Graeme Boyd, international jobs has provided an extra dimension to his career, as he explains to Rob Green.

When Graeme Boyd began his career in libraries, he followed a fairly well-trodden path – working in his school library followed by a stint as a Saturday assistant in his local public library. The opportunities that followed were not typical, and Graeme developed a broader experience of working in libraries early on.

He began helping out at his school library where “my first ‘boss’ was Andrew Cowan, who went on to write the wonderful book Pig (1994) and is former director of the creative writing programme at the University of East Anglia. Little did he know the influence he would have on me.”

He says: “I then started working on Saturday’s for East Renfrewshire Council in their public libraries. I much preferred the libraries in the more deprived areas, as there were far more characters there… all with a story or two to tell! It was whilst working for East Renfrewshire Council that I met Liz McGettigan, currently Director of Digital Library Experiences at Solus UK, who is still a mentor to this day.

“Around this time, I started my MSc in Information and Library Studies at University of Strathclyde. When I was doing that, I was also working unpaid ‘work experience’ at The Glasgow School of Art Library. That then became a part-time paid job which was probably one of the best library jobs I’ve ever had in my life. I worked in the original iconic Mackintosh building, which was mainly used by researchers and academics (appointment only), but which now pains me to say is no longer there because of a fire in 2014.”

New openings

Graeme developed an interest in prison libraries while studying for his MSc, and that led to a position at HMP Wandsworth, which was “a real eye opener for me; adult literacy, language barriers, creative writing… it really shaped my philosophy which I still believe to this day that the power of libraries can change lives for the better.”

Other jobs followed as Graeme moved sectors again, working in librarian and archivist jobs at BBC and Condé Nast. However, it was his next move that really allowed Graeme to think about the different opportunities that working in libraries could deliver – not just on a professional level.

“I then moved to Amsterdam where I worked for Greenpeace International as their video and film archivist (my first degree was in film),” explains Graeme. The notion that his chosen profession could also allow him to experience life in other countries, was planted.

Graeme says: “I became interested in schools because I wanted to travel. I found out that qualified UK librarians could work abroad in international schools as librarians. For me, this was an ah-hah moment and that’s what I’ve been doing to this day! My first job was in Kuwait and since then I’ve worked and lived as a librarian in Lebanon, China, Brazil, Germany and now Ghana. I don’t plan on stopping!”

Graeme, who has just completed his latest contract at a school in Accra, Ghana, says that there are opportunities out there, but they may not be obvious.

“The international school library world is a niche. There are few of us, but we all know each other and most importantly It’s almost like a hidden secret.”

While it might not be for everyone, Graeme believes more librarians should consider the benefits of working abroad. For one, school libraries in International Schools are often well-resourced and play a key role in delivering quality education. Many International Schools follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) exam system and the IBO, which administers the exams, says librarians are an important part of that process. A spokesperson said: “The IB empowers teachers to design courses that suit different cultures, contexts, and national requirements while being supported by materials, global community, and professional development opportunities. The IB is committed to supporting the whole school community, including librarians, who play a vital role in promoting literacy, research skills, school cohesion and community involvement – all of which cultivate the best students and teachers’ outcomes.”

Graeme says that, in his experience, the international schools where he has worked have followed that principle of placing a high value on the school library, its resources, and its librarian.

“The library is at the heart of the school,” he says. “All the international schools I work in follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. The IB believes that the Library and Librarian should offer a central role to the school. They published a seminal document in 2018 called Ideal Libraries: a guide for schools. This document, freely available, describes the various roles of the librarian; how the library works as a system and how libraries support multiliteracies and technology integration.”

Supporting the whole school

That backing for the school library/librarian means that the role is tailored to supporting the implementation of the curriculum at all levels. Graeme says: “My main responsibilities are not to check in/check out or shelve books, it’s to support teachers and students with research skills, digital citizenship, ethics, referencing and citing as well as of course promoting reading for pleasure.

”I spend most of my time in the classroom collaborating with subject teachers and supporting students. It’s really important that the librarian is familiar with the curriculum and attends curriculum planning meetings and has a voice at these meetings. The librarian should know what the student is doing, what they’re studying and what’s to come in the same way that when the student returns a book the librarian should have a general idea of that author/plot or even better have read the book themselves.

“Let the teacher teach as they have to with units, lesson plans, summatives and formative assessments but let the librarian be there to facilitate, collaborate and support students. Many teachers (and supervisors/principals) still don’t really understand the importance of the role which the librarian offers. It’s part of my job to demonstrate that. School librarians must market, promote and sell themselves as if they are a business. The parent/teacher/student is the customer and they should expect the best service.”

Most international schools are independent and funded through school fees – this model provides its own benefits for students and staff. This financial model, coupled with greater independence over how money is spent, allows schools to reinterpret how they allocate resources to meet student and staff needs. Graeme explains that this also allows for a spirit of innovation within the school, adding: “Many of the best international school libraries are now seen as flexible learning environments which anyone in the school community can use (including parents); shelves are on wheels and the library can transform into a yoga studio or makerspace or conference centre in minutes. Likewise micro-libraries are becoming more popular in schools (especially larger schools with multiple campuses) which essentially are hubs and OPAC stations scattered throughout the campus which students can quickly log into to check the catalogue, access a database, print or request resources.”

Personal development

So professionally, there is a lot to be said for taking that step into another country, but there is also plenty to be gained personally. Graeme talks about his experience of different cultures as being a high priority for himself.

“There is no point in moving to such faraway and exciting places if you don’t immerse yourself in local culture, customs and the people. For me, that’s part of the buzz. Also, you need to have an open mindset. You’re not going to change the place you are going to, or the things you don’t like about it – you have to be open to the country and its people changing you for the better. They will.

“There is a decision you need to make about your social life. Will you spend your time with the local community or with the expats you work with? More often than not, I’ve seen expat teachers get sucked into cliques or groups with teachers from the country where they are from, to the point that they essentially are living in a bubble. You are a guest in someone’s else’s country so you need to show respect and courtesy at all times.”

Is it right for you?

But a word of warning – as already stated, a move abroad may not be for everyone and despite the benefits, there are always potential drawbacks to consider. Graeme says: “Your own personal life can suffer in terms of forming and sustaining relationships along the way, as you keep moving around. I’m still single, without children which isn’t something I thought I’d be saying at 44.”

An overseas job may seem like a move to make when you are young or have no family commitments. But many schools actively encourage applications from families, and even offer free places to children at their schools. Graeme says: “You can look at some of the salaries on offer at top-tier schools in the UK, and it doesn’t compare to an international school where you can move your partner and family out there, get your accommodation paid for and take home a tax-free salary. It can change your life.

“I didn’t know that these schools existed when I started out, and I think there are school librarians in the UK who do not necessarily appreciate the value of a British library qualification or the value in CILIP’s Professional Registration. There are countries around the world that are desperate to tap into that knowledge and expertise.”

And while your next move might not be to another country, there are plenty of other ways to explore change. It is worth remembering that the skills, qualifications and knowledge you gain throughout your career are transferable and could open-up a whole world of new opportunities.

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