Contribution of academic libraries towards sustainable development goals

Abstract

This paper is an exploratory investigation about the contribution of libraries in achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study focusses on how libraries could formulate plans to integrate the SDGs into all its programmes and projects. The study identifies nine SDGs that require the direct involvement of libraries as well as some successful activities carried out by certain libraries for this purpose. The paper, after exploring the situation of academic libraries in Sri Lanka, found that eight universities in Sri Lanka have included ‘sustainable development’ in their strategic plans and academic libraries integrate them in library resources, services and programmes. However, these libraries are lacking in mapping of their activities with SDGs. The study recommends that academic libraries should map SDGs to the libraries’ programmes, services, and resources.