SUSTAINABLE LIBRARIANSHIP - BRIDGING INFORMATION SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS

Abstract

One of the most interesting aspects of libraries in the 21st century is that while their focus has shifted from the management of information, it is now more concerned with broader goals of social service and environmental awareness. This article focuses on sustainable librarianship which incorporates the ethics of environmentalism into the work, services, and librarian profession. Areas of study include the environmental impact of library operations, sustainable collection development practices, planning of green library buildings, and the library's role in the environmental education of local communities. It also discusses how libraries can further the United Nations SDGs, including through the design of ecologically sustainable buildings, ethical information practices, and environmental advocacy. Librarians need to take responsibility for implementing sustainable practices within their organizations, and to promote education on environmental issues to their clientele. It follows then that if the philosophy of environmental ethics can be realized in the delivery of information services, libraries may drive sustainability and ethics in society.