Libraries and Associations Advancing Sustainable Development (SD)
See resources below related to libraries and professional associations advancing SD or the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Read more about the SDGs here.
Advancing the SDGs
- Jibril, L. & Momoh, E. O. Leveraging Libraries and Librarians for Africa’s Social Change and Sustainable Development in the 21st Century, May 12, 2024. Read here.
- Libraries for Peace (L4P), an initiative by The Mortenson Center, provides a list of resources for celebrating Libraries for Peace Day each year.
- Struckmeyer, Amanda Moss. Inspiring Teens, Tweens, and Families to Make a Difference in the World: Programming to Advance the Sustainable Development Goals. Chicago: American Library Association, 2025.
- Suffolk Cooperative Library System (host). Sustainable Libraries Initiative. The SLI “provides library leaders with a proven path forward to co-create libraries and communities that will thrive in the coming years. The Sustainable Library Certification Program and the SLI community of practice focuses your leadership to enable your library, and ultimately your community, to become more environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically feasible.”
- Map of the U.N. SDG’s to the SLCP’s Action Items <link>
- Willems, Linda. Achieving the UN SDGs – is there a role for libraries?, May 24, 2022 – We hear from three experts who believe that libraries are ideally placed to drive and support contributions to the goals. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/library-connect/achieving-the-un-sdgs-is-there-a-role-for-libraries
- Willems, Linda. 7 ways that libraries can support and promote the UN SDGs at their institutions, August 1, 2022 – Experts share their top tips for libraries who want to get involved but don’t know how. https://www.elsevier.com/connect/7-ways-that-libraries-can-support-and-promote-the-un-sdgs-at-their-institutions
Libraries for SD – Good Practices
- Elsevier. How will libraries deliver a sustainable future? (recorded webinar)
- Pressreader. Green outreach: inspiring environmental stewardship in library patrons through innovative programs. https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/green-outreach-inspiring-environmental-stewardship-in-library-patrons
Libraries (by type) Advancing the SDGs
Academic Libraries
- York University Libraries: Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) https://www.library.yorku.ca/web/about-us/plans-and-reports/yul-advancing-sdgs/ [Canada]
- University of Costa Rica Libraries: Documentation and Information System https://sibdi.ucr.ac.cr/ods/ [Costa Rica]
Public Libraries
- Banks, Kelly. Sustainability in public libraries: What three institutions are doing to be more eco-friendly https://blog.pressreader.com/libraries-institutions/sustainability-in-public-libraries
- Mbatha, Nomfundo. Rewriting the narrative: St. Mary’s and Makhana Libraries Unite for Library Week Celebration. Grocott’s Mail. April 14, 2025. [South Africa]
- Pressreader. How Public Libraries Play a crucial role in sustainable development. March 3, 2025. Read more here.
Library Associations – International
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
- Cape Town Declaration (August 14, 2015) – read it here.
- High-Impact Initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals: Opportunities for Libraries (January 5, 2024) – read more here.
- IFLA Statement on Evidence for Sustainable Development. https://repository.ifla.org/handle/20.500.14598/2191
- IFLA Toolkit: Libraries, Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda (Revised version – August 2017) – read more here.
- Powering Sustainable Development <read here> | Engaging international organisations <read here> | Showing libraries’ contribution to development <read here> | Supporting national and regional advocacy <read here>
- Environment, Sustainability and Libraries Section – learn more here.
- The Library Map of the World – organizations can learn about or add their “SDG Stories” of how libraries have contributed towards an SDG.
- Sustainable Development and Libraries in 2025 (January 28, 2025) – read more here.
- Take Action! – read more here.
- United Nations. Contribution of Libraries to the SDGs. https://sdgs.un.org/partnerships/contribution-libraries-sdgs
- UNESCO-IFLA advocate libraries in advancing inclusive Knowledge Societies and sustainable development at the WLIC 2023 https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/unesco-ifla-advocate-libraries-advancing-inclusive-knowledge-societies-and-sustainable-development
Library Associations & Related Organizations – Regional
Africa
IFLA Declaration in Africa
- Deliberated on the status of libraries in the continent and the progress required to meet the global sustainable development goals;
- Inspired by the principles enshrined in the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance and global sustainable development agenda;
- Inspired by the level of commitment to prioritise and resource libraries as part of Africa Agenda 2063; http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/wlic/2015/documents/cape-town-declaration-of-ministers.pdf
Library & Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)
- South African Library Week 2025. As part of the South African Library Week 2025 activities, Deputy Minister Peace Mabe visited the school to engage with learners on the role of libraries in building sustainable communities and the importance of embracing our national symbols. https://www.liasa.org.za/news/696024/South-African-Library-Week-Launch-.htm
- South African Library Week 2025 – Libraries for Sustainable Communities. https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.liasa.org.za/resource/resmgr/salw/salw_2025/salw_program_dsac_version.pdf
SDG Book Club African Chapter – See here about the Arabic, English, French, and Kiswahili reading lists on of books from around theAfrican continent related to each of the 17 SDGs for children ages 6-12. See the FAQs here.
Library Associations & Related Oganizations – National
- Library associations working with the SDGs – read more here.
- American Library Association (ALA)
- A Call to Action on Climate Change for Libraries. https://www.ala.org/news/2022/06/call-action-climate-change-libraries
- The ALA Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals has created downloadable materials for libraries to promote and advance the SDGs.
- IRRT International Sustainable Library Development Interest Group – The ISLD serves as a clearinghouse of sustainable community-based library projects in developing areas of the world. This group mobilizes the power of ALA librarians to raise awareness of and make significant contributions to international library development. Librarians in developing countries can tap into resources for training and projects in their libraries.
- Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA)
- Australian Libraries Support the Sustainable Development Goals (January 2018)
- Sustainable Development Goals: Stretch Targets for Australian Libraries 2020-2030 (1 November 2021) – report from the annual SDG Roundtable for representatives from different sectors of the library field, which identified five areas of focus and 13 action points aligned with the Stretch Targets.
- Norwegian Library Association [Norsk Bibliotekforening]. The UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and library.[Use your browser’s translator to translate from Norwegian to your language.]
- Norwegian Children’s Book Institute [Norsk Barnebokinstitutt]. The sustainability library – “This is a Norwegian version of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Book Club, and is adapted for children aged 6-12. It consists of children’s literary book lists with activities for all 17 sustainability goals, and offers participants a literary and conversation-based understanding of the world’s common work plan. The sustainability library has been developed in collaboration between many children’s literary actors. The secretariat is at the Norwegian Children’s Book Institute.”
Library Associations – By Type
Academic and Research
- 2024 ARL President’s Institute (Association of Research Libraries), February 8, 2024; San Diego | Theme: Embracing Sustainability—Libraries Leading the Way. Using the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a tool for fostering individual and collective awareness and imagination, the 2024 President’s Institute will explore how libraries and museums contribute to sustainable development and how we can build awareness and actively participate in furthering this work.