Free professional development through peer mentorship - apply now at ILN

Photo: ‘Globe post card sample 1’ CC-BY-2.0 by Михаил Чуркин

The International Librarians Network is a great opportunity to enhance your own professional development through contact with a global peer mentor. A round is in a 4 month cycle, with two facilitated discussion points each month!

Even if you don't get a very responsive peer mentor, you will still be able to gain valuable global insight through the discussion points, social media updates and Twitter chats.

Want to build your professional network and learn about librarianship around the world? Love the idea of professional travel but just don’t have the budget? The International Librarians Network (ILN) is for you. We are pleased to announce the next round of this popular program will commence in early March 2016. 

The ILN peer mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. Participating in the ILN brings wider professional awareness, an international perspective to your work, new ideas, and increased professional confidence. We know this because many of our participants tell us – and we’ve had over 3500 librarians from 120+ countries take part so far. 

Applications for the next round of partnerships will open in mid January and close at midnight on Monday 15th February 2016. Numbers are limited, so apply early to ensure you don’t miss out. 

The ILN is open to anyone working (or studying) in the library and information industry around the world. The program is free and the only requirements to participate are an internet connection, fluent English skills, an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues.  

Get involved now! Find out more about the way the program works, or apply online.

Read more:

- 5 reasons to join the ILN peer mentoring program

- 5 reasons why you need to be a peer mentor

by Karen du Toit, ILN Ambassador for South Africa

International Librarians Network - Infographic

Want to build your professional network and learn about librarianship around the world? Love the idea of professional travel but just don’t have the budget? The International Librarians Network (ILN) is for you. We are pleased to announce the next round of this popular program will commence in early March 2016. 

The ILN peer mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. Participating in the ILN brings wider professional awareness, an international perspective to your work, new ideas, and increased professional confidence. We know this because many of our participants tell us – and we’ve had over 3500 librarians from 120+ countries take part so far. 

Applications for the next round of partnerships will open in mid January and close at midnight on Monday 15th February 2016. Numbers are limited, so apply early to ensure you don’t miss out. 

The ILN is open to anyone working (or studying) in the library and information industry around the world. The program is free and the only requirements to participate are an internet connection, fluent English skills, an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues.  

Get involved now! Find out more about the way the program works, or apply online.

Applications for the next round of international networking and peer mentorship closes on 26 July - International Librarians Network

"...participants at the end of each round [evaluates]what impact the ILN had on their professional activities. Based on that feedback [...] the number one outcome for participants in the ILN is developing a  wider professional awareness and an international perspective on their work.
The reason: The ILN is an incredibly diverse global community, with volunteers from nearly 30 countries and participants from over 110.
By participating in the next round of the ILN’s peer mentoring program, you will not only be matched with a peer mentor from another country, but you will receive discussion topics and guest posts from librarians all over the world." 

                                               ILN- Apply now to grow your international network

The International Librarians Network is a free and a  three month opportunity to connect with an international peer from wide-ranging careers in librarianship. The programme asks that the participants connects with their mentors on a regular basis. It happens mostly through email contact, but the participants themselves can decide how much and in what way they want to connect. There are also themes in that period that are being run on the International Librarians Network blog page that enhances the experience, and helps participants to focus their discussions.

The applications closes on 26 July 2015 for the next round.
Apply here.

I have been signing up for each round of the ILN, and I have met great librarians from across the world. I now can say that I know librarians in Spain, Bangladesh, Australia and England. There is also a wider community that I have met through my contact on social media with the ILN! It has been an eye opening experience, and to realize that we have the same issues, career challenges and love for the work that we do!


Here's some more reading material about the advantages of joining a round of ILN:

Apply now to grow your international network!

5 Reasons to apply now to be a peer mentor

Applications now open for the next round of the ILN



Blog post by Karen du Toit, South African ILN Ambassador.

Librarians: Connect for free with international peers and beef up your professional networks

International Librarianship @thelibrarykim

Librarians, and also archivists! This is a great way to re-ignite your professional life and networks for the new year! 

The International Librarians Network: new round begins March 2015

Want to build your professional network and learn about librarianship around the world? Love the idea of professional travel but just don’t have the budget? The International Librarians Network (ILN) is for you. We are pleased to announce the next round of this popular program will commence in March 2015. 

The ILN peer mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. Having connected over 1500 librarians from 103 countries, participating in the ILN brings wider professional awareness, an international perspective to your work, new ideas, and increased professional confidence.  

Applications for the next round of partnerships will open in January 2015 and close at midnight on Sunday 15th February 2015. Numbers are limited, so apply early to ensure your inclusion. 

The ILN is open to anyone working in the library and information industry around the world. The program remains free and the only requirements to participate are an internet connection, fluent English skills, an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues.  

Get involved now!
Find out more about the way the program works, or apply online.

Blog post by Karen du Toit, ILN South Africa coordinator (Contact here: southafrica.ilnetwork@gmail.com)
Signing up for her fifth round!


Related posts:

- Connect with archivists and librarians from around the world 

- The International Librarians Network: new round begins Seeptember 2014

The International Librarians Network: new round begins September 2014

Want to build your professional network and learn about librarianship around the world? 
Love the idea of professional travel but just don’t have the budget? The International Librarians Network (ILN) is for you. 

The ILN peer mentoring program is a facilitated program aimed at helping librarians develop international networks. The next round of this popular program will commence in September 2014.

Applications for the next round of partnerships will open in July 2014 and close at midnight on Wednesday 20th of August 2014. Numbers are limited, so apply early to ensure your inclusion.

The ILN is open to anyone working in the library and information industry around the world. The program remains free and the only requirements to participate are an internet connection, fluent English skills, an hour each week and a desire to build professional connections and learn from colleagues.

Get involved now!

Find out more about the way the program works, or apply online.

Karen du Toit is the country coordinator for International Librarians Network in South Africa. She has signed up for the third round.

Contact her here: southafrica.ilnetwork@gmail.com

Image from Free Digital Photos

Connect with librarians and archivists from around the world

CC: Flag of Flags
By Garry Knight on Flickr

The new round of partnerships for the International Librarians Network commences in September.

The International Librarians Network is a wonderful opportunity to connect with like-minded peers from around the world.

I have completed the first pilot round that started in April, and I have signed up again.
It does not take much of your own time, but only an email or two per week to the partner selected from around the world.

It has brought me many new insights about what is happening in the world of librarians.
I have caught on to many new reading materials, but I have also come to realize that we are not the only ones struggling in our daily jobs...
Struggling with recognition and budget cuts and staying afloat in an era of online information...

I have met Fiona Malcolm (@tapsister) from the Boroondara City  Library in Australia.
We will be continuing our discussions on "world domination", as she calls it, and I am learning with each email I receive from her about valuable articles or learning material for professional development.

Through the International Librarians Network I am taking part in the ANZ 23 Mobile Things, a world-wide network for librarians (but not exclusive) for learning new things about mobile technology and apps and the application of it in library environments.

I have also signed up for my first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), the New Librarianship Master Class of the Syracuse University, and have done the four week course. I have received my Certificate of Completion yesterday.

Had it not been for ILN, I would not have known about it!


Information about the International Librarians Network:

- About ILN

- How the programme works 

- Join ILN

- Facebook: International Librarians Network

- Twitter: @InterLibNet


Blog post by Karen du Toit, Archivist in the SABC Radio Archives.