How do libraries work with sustainability — and what does it really mean?

What does a sustainable library look like? Try to imagine it. Is it a building furnished with lots of greenery, solar panels on the roof and a windmill in the surrounding garden? Or is it more what goes on inside such as an exhibition that encourages less food waste, or an event where you can come and fix things instead of throwing them out? Or is it instead more the way librarians involve themselves in the green agenda? This article takes a closer look at how libraries and librarians work with sustainability and what it can mean.

What is a sustainable library?

Sustainability is a big part of the public debate — this is not news. But that libraries are engaging with the sustainability agenda, and have been doing so for a long time, is perhaps surprising to most. Sustainability in libraries can be expressed in many different ways, depending on which understanding of sustainability is dominant. Sometimes in the architecture and design of the building, sometimes in the offers and events offered by the library, and sometimes in the facilitation of opportunities to act. Sustainability and sustainable development have been a focus of libraries since the 1990s, and increasingly since the 2010s.But why are libraries engaging with the green agenda? How is it expressed? And what impact can this have on our understanding of the role of libraries, and not least of librarians? We delved into the existing research on libraries and sustainability, and in this article you can read about what we found.

Sustainability on the agenda

Sustainability is often linked to the dramatic climate changes of recent years. But sustainability and sustainable development are about more than climate. Sustainability is fundamentally about how we ensure decent living conditions for current and future generations in both an environmental, economic, social and cultural sense. It is this holistic understanding of sustainable development that forms the basis for The 17 World Goals of the United Nations and the 2030 Agenda. From the international trade association 'International Federation of Library Associations and Organizations' (IFLA) to local public libraries worldwide, libraries have been actively engaged in the issue of sustainability and sustainable development in recent years. Also in Denmark, where the network 'DB2030' since 2019 has been working to make public libraries the popular anchor point for the United Nations World Goals. Its members today include both public libraries, library associations, green think tanks and organisations, and educational institutions.

Why are libraries going up in sustainability?

The UPSCALE research project investigates how public libraries can contribute to sustainable transformation through an increased focus on sharing economy and circular consumption. As part of the Upscale project, we were interested to know why and how libraries internationally have engaged in sustainability and sustainable development. Therefore, as a background for the project's case studies and experiments with sharing schemes, we have examined the rather extensive research literature in the field. through a study of a total of 102 scientific publications from 1997 to 2021.In the literature study, we focused on how libraries have engaged in sustainability work and what motivations lie behind libraries' efforts.

Four rationales behind libraries' commitment to sustainability

In response to the question of why libraries are engaged in the sustainability agenda, we find in the research literature four overarching rationales or reasons for movement.These we have chosen to call optimization, legitimization, demonstration and transformation.

1. Optimization

When we talk about optimizing, these are primarily environmental or green initiatives such as designing new climate-friendly library buildings or redesigning existing buildings to comply with green standards and targets. In particular, it was these movements that characterized the so-called 'Green Library Movement', which emerged in the United States in the mid-1990s.Today, to a large extent, it is also about optimizing the use of existing resources and minimizing the use of new resources, for example, by changing habits and workflows. How much each library engages in optimization can depend on both the external pressures of politicians, authorities and citizens, and on the internal pressures of management and employees. Wherever the pressure may come from, it is about finding creative and innovative solutions that make better use of existing resources and reduce the use of new resources.

2. Legitimization

Legitimization is about image care and marketing of the library both externally to politicians and citizens and internally to the other libraries. When the library supports and promotes sustainability in the physical environment, in the practices of its employees or in citizen-oriented activities, it sends a clear signal that it is subscribing to a specific agenda that has enormous political awareness. At the same time, climate and sustainability are themes that concern broad sections of the population, especially the younger generations. Internally among libraries, sustainability initiatives can help mark each library as innovative at both local and national levels.

3. Demonstration

Demonstration This is about illustrating and showing what you as a citizen can do. This can be expressed in many different ways. Specifically, it can be about making knowledge and information available by selecting and exhibiting materials on climate change, sustainability and world goals. It can also be more involving and involve different events at the library, where citizens can meet and exchange knowledge and experiences. At the same time, demonstration in many places used to turn the library into a 'tool' or a kind of laboratory for sustainable solutions that involve and engage citizens. As a rationale, demonstration is an expression of the fact that libraries and librarians actively try to inspire and influence citizens to act by being good examples.

4. Transformation

Just like with the rational demonstration acting transformation that libraries and librarians should be good examples and inspire citizens and communities. But this in itself is not enough. For transformation to take place, librarians and library staff themselves must take on a proactive or downright activist role in leading the way and creating change. The transformational rationale is particularly expressed in the literature we have categorized as' holistic 'and often in relation to the work on the UN Global Goals. Here it is described the librarian as a 'change agent' or a 'change-drivers' in relation to sustainability and the 2030 Agenda. It is therefore not only about creating change, but also about creating support for change.

So how do we understand sustainable libraries?

There are a number of reasons why libraries are committed to sustainability. They extend from wanting to limit one's own negative environmental footprint on the world to showing the population possible ways forward towards a more sustainable society, or even taking the lead in the struggle for sustainability itself. The four rationales, however, are not just justifications for why libraries do what they do. The way libraries go about sustainability also has an impact on how we understand the role of libraries — and not least librarians — in the future.

Possible consequences

The optimisation rationale has an impact on the pressure that libraries are experiencing and means that libraries and librarians are even more likely than ever to find creative and innovative solutions to do more with less. Because sustainability receives much attention in public debate, it is important that libraries and library staff are explicit about their contribution to this agenda and the role they assume in doing so. This role is seriously reflected in the demonstration rationale (to be a good example), and is closely related to the traditional role of libraries in relation to enlightenment and education. There are even advocates for training librarians to teaching 'green training' or 'sustainability training'The proactive approach to sustainability formation is closely linked to the last rationale, transformation. Here, some libraries and librarians take the step further and step into the role of proactive change agents, offering spaces, tools and opportunities for change through social innovation and entrepreneurship.

An extension of the main purpose of libraries?

Historically, public libraries have always been committed to the transformation of society through education and education in order to enable citizens to improve their living conditions, whether in terms of social mobility or general quality of life. Over the past few years, we have seen a development in which employees in libraries, and in other cultural institutions, are taking on a more proactive or even more activist role in relation to current societal issues. This could be in relation to social inclusion, integration or the fight against loneliness — and thus also in relation to sustainability, the climate crisis and the UN Global Goals. It is about contributing to solving major universal problems, including through a focus on accessibility and equal access to information, knowledge and opportunities.

This is where the principle behind the UN's 17 World Goals and universal design arises — 'Leave No One Behind' — resonate with the roots of public education, particularly in public libraries, and the ideal of equal opportunities for all (Read more about universal design here) .Although the proactive element is most evident in the transformational rationale, what is common to all rationales is that they point towards an increased focus on and commitment to sustainability and sustainable development. A development that could have an impact on how we understand the role of libraries and librarians in the future. And a development we've probably only seen the beginning of.