LIBRARIES AND SUSTAINABILITY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

As part of the SLIC-funded project Libraries for a Sustainable Future, CILIPS has been working alongside researchers at the University of Strathclyde (Professor Gobinda Chowdhury, Dr Sudatta Chowdhury, and Ellie Jack) to explore what libraries in Scotland are doing for sustainable development, and how we can improve our contributions to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

This page brings together the findings from their research. Here you can find everything you need to know about making your library more green and sustainable, through both reducing the impact of library services and inspiring users to engage in sustainability activities and behaviours. Scroll down to find useful resources, including examples of best practice, guides on writing a climate policy, carbon calculator tools, and much more!

PROJECT SUMMARY

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out “the climate emergency is a race we are losing, but it is a race we can win”. Libraries, as social institutions, have a double role to play in winning the climate emergency race: (1) by being environmentally sustainable as institutions; and (2) by introducing targeted activities and services for developing community education and advocacy programmes around the sustainability agenda. In recent years, some libraries and enthusiastic professionals in Scotland have initiated some specific activities around the sustainability agenda. However, as of now, there are no agreed standards or frameworks, with metrics of targets and indicators, that can be used by different types of libraries to assess their achievements around the sustainability agenda. Building on the existing activities and initiatives, such as the CILIPS Green Libraries Network, this project aimed to take a bottom-up approach to: 

1. identify the ongoing activities and initiatives undertaken by some libraries in Scotland around the sustainability and climate change agenda; 
2. partner with experts from the library and allied sectors and stakeholders, such as Creative Carbon Scotland, Keep Scotland Beautiful, the Carbon Literacy Trust, etc., in order to develop a shared view of a framework of targets and indicators for libraries to measure success around the sustainability agenda; and 
3. map the ongoing activities onto the targets and indicators to assess the suitability of the metrics for different types of libraries.

Through a combination of a survey questionnaire, interviews, and a workshop, the research aimed to gather a variety of data on the state of play within Scottish school and public libraries, focusing on these key questions:

1. What role do public libraries have in promoting and working towards the SDGs?
2. How do libraries contribute towards meeting SDGs?
3. How do libraries and library staff learn about SDGs?
4. Which initiatives, policies, and programs are the most effective at meeting the goals, indicators and targets?
5. What challenges do public libraries face in becoming more sustainable institutions and how can these be overcome?

The Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals set out aims and targets to make the planet fairer, greener, and more prosperous for everyone, now and in the future. The 17 goals aim to improve environmental, social and economic aspects of life, by tackling issues including climate action and clean water and sanitation, gender equality and good health, and education and poverty. The goals are complex and ambitious, requiring collaboration between countries and cultures. This means we all have a responsibility to think about how we can change our behaviour to allow progress to be made. Many of the outcomes overlap, so by helping meet one goal you’re probably also contributing to another!

CASE STUDY: WHAT LIBRARIES ARE DOING

School Libraries

• The research revealed that 6% of school libraries surveyed have a sustainability plan/strategy, while 29% are working on one.
• Only 12% currently have climate training available for staff.
• 12% have a green team, 12% have climate responsibilities integrated into existing roles, and 29% have staff who take informal responsibility for green projects.
• The most common forms of action across the survey respondents include providing sustainability book collections and information for users (71%), working with teachers to educate pupils in class (41%), reducing materials use and waste (35%), and reducing the use of plastic (35%).
• Examples of initiatives: a climate literacy workshop, an interdisciplinary learning event, and a school garden project.
• Key challenges to implementing sustainability action include a lack of clarity on the right thing to do, a lack of knowledge and expertise, and a lack of autonomy to make decisions.

Public Libraries

• 35% of the public libraries surveyed have a sustainability plan, while 41% are working on one.
• 29% have climate training available to staff.
• In terms of the organisation of climate responsibilities within library services, one library service has a dedicated sustainability role, 29% have a green team, 18% have sustainability responsibilities integrated into existing roles, and 18% have staff who take informal action using their initiative.
• The most common forms of action include reducing building energy use (82%), reducing the use of plastic (77%), reducing materials use and waste (77%), sourcing sustainable products and services (71%), and running learning activities addressing climate change and sustainability (71%).
• Examples of action that has taken place in public libraries include a seed library, lend and mend hubs, an upcycling programme, community garden projects, sustainability-themed author events, and COP26-related activities.
• Projects such as the Carbon Literacy Project, Climate Beacon work, Lend and Mend Hubs, and the Framing Climate Justice Project help staff learn and develop understanding. Working with partners such as Keep Scotland Beautiful, Green Arts Initiative, and Creative Carbon Scotland also benefit staff.
• Significant challenges identified by the survey include a lack of human resources, a lack of financial resources and funding, and lack of time.
• Measuring the impact of climate action is also challenging. Some libraries count attendance, look at engagement statistics and ask for user feedback. Many respondents highlighted the need for a more accurate evaluation system.

EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Building on from the SLIC-funded project, the research was able to continue through Libraries as Agents of Sustainability Thinking in Scotland (LASTS), supported by the CILIPS Research Fund. With the aim of exploring the role of Scottish public and school libraries in promoting sustainable thinking initiatives, LASTS will develop an action plan and toolkit for developing environmental literacy and sustainability. As part of this, two posters have been created to promote user awareness and inspire changes to be made in everyday lives.

You can download a copy of the poster for school children or adults to display in your library.

TARGETS AND INDICATORS: MEASURING TOOLKIT FOR SUSTAINABILITY

The research concluded that many libraries are already well on in their sustainability journey and that lots of wonderful initiatives are already in place to address the climate challenge. It was noted, however, that there is no formal mechanism in place to measure and assess how these initiatives contribute to the SDGs’ targets and indicators. A tool has been developed for the first time to allow the LIS sector to gather data on how their work impacts the Sustainable Development Goals.

Table 1 provides a simple template for recording the contributions of libraries towards SDG13, by measuring the carbon footprints of existing library buildings and infrastructure. This will help libraries set targets and initiate strategies for reducing their carbon footprint through infrastructure and facilities.

Libraries have a huge potential to contribute towards the climate agenda through education and inspiring behavioural changes within society. Table 2 provides a template for assessing how libraries contribute to the broader SDG indicator and targets through collections and services.

These tools can be developed and Table 3 gives a list of further ways the LIS sector can assess its contribution to the climate agenda.

LINKS

Learn more about the Sustainable Development Goals, and why they are important.

See how global progress is being made with an interactive map.

View guides on waste, climate policies, and digital footprints.

Access tools to help you understand carbon and carbon management.

Apply for funding via the CILIPS Green Libraries Scotland Grant (closing date 14th June 2024).

Hear how previous Green Libraries Grant recipient Donna Baird made wonderful use of the fund.

Explore resources from the CILIP Green Libraries Partnership webpage.

Improve your carbon literacy through The Carbon Literacy Project.

View the recording of Scotland’s Green Libraries Gathering: