Image credit: IFLA ​www.IFLA.

org

In 2015 the United Nations adopted a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals

(SDGs). These goals are an expansion and continuation of the Millennium
Development Goals,​1​ with sights set higher than to “achieve a better and more
sustainable future for all.”​2

In support of reaching these goals, the United Nations has provided an number of
resources. First are sets of data and facts showing the need to work towards change.
Second are a list of targets.​2​ These targets break down the larger goal into a series of
smaller, more specific and attainable focus points. There are 169 individual targets
attached to the 17 Goals.​1

The goals themselves are as follows:

1) ​ o Poverty
N
2) Zero Hunger
3) Good Health and Well-Being
4) Quality Education
5) Gender Equality
Libraries and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Loren Mindell - INFO 287 - Fall 2018

6) Clean Water and Sanitation

7) Affordable and Clean Energy
8) Decent Work and Economic Growth
9) Industry, Innovation, Infrastructure
10) ​Reduced Inequalities
11) ​Sustainable Cities and Communities
12) ​Responsable Production and Consumption
13) ​Climate Action
14) ​Life Below Water
15) ​Life on Land
16) ​Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
17)Partnerships for the Goals

The 169 targets nested into the 17 goals vary but serve to provide more narrowly
focused areas of action. While the targets do not provide specific action items or
address the need for evaluation, they do provide a pathway in working towards the
SDGs.​2 ​This is not to say that the need for evaluation has gone unaddressed.
International Development Evaluation Association (IDEAS) and the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) have covered the topic extensively in a document titled
Evaluation for Agenda 2030.​3​ The editors of this document make no qualms that the
evaluation of, just as is participation in,
work towards the SDGs is voluntary.

Not having a mechanism to enforce work

or evaluation does not change the facts
about what the SDGs call for and what
needs to be done. Evaluation will have to
occur to assess the present situation and
progress made. For an overview of the
current situation relating to any of the
SDGs, the previously mentioned data
sets are a good start. Moving forward, the High-Level Political Forum will be the main
body responsible following up on and reviewing the SDGs.​4 ​ This review will be made
possible by the collaboration of a number of groups, operating under the umbrella of
EVALSDGs.​5
Libraries and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Loren Mindell - INFO 287 - Fall 2018

In order for development, particularly around energy, agriculture, industry, and

infrastructure occur in a sustainable manner, access to information is indispensable.​6
While, currently, wealthy countries are responsible for nearly ​two-thirds of the CO​2
released into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution, poorer countries will bear
the brunt of increased natural disasters, water scarcity, and other adverse effects of
climate change.​7​ While using models presented by wealthy countries for economic
development have been working for some nations as far as producing wealth, models
for green development will need to be followed by both developed and developing
nations to mitigate climate change. ​Bringing about positive change in education, gender
equity, wealth inequality, and the stability of institutions will also require increased
access to information.

But where do libraries fit into all of this?

According to the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)

President Donna Scheeder, “there is no truly sustainable development without access
to information, and no meaningful, inclusive access to information without libraries”.​8
Access to information is crucial to almost any human activity today. The ability to share
information and collaborate with other people via digital platforms has long been the
norm and without such access any community working towards development will be at a
disadvantage.​9​ Although providing hardware and internet access is not without its
challenges, libraries are at the forefront of providing access to information through
modern medium.​10,11

IFLA has already taken a leadership position, publishing the Development and Access
to Information (DA2I) report.​12​ DA2I provides participating nations, libraries, and
businesses a roadmap for creating and implementing access to information and how
access to information contributes towards efforts to reach the SDGs. IFLA plans on
producing more documents in support of the SDGs. Subsequent documents will monitor
how access to information contributes to the SDGs.

To get ahead of the challenges that libraries will face, IFLA has put together a network
of ideas and actions: ​IFLA’s Global Vision.​13​ This vision not only emphasises the need
for access to information but also the need for participation within society. Here we can
see the fundamental understanding that humans connect to each other through creating
and sharing information.

It is not just global institutions that are working to advance the SDGs. Libraries around
the world have been working towards the goals set forth by the UN’s 2030 agenda long
Libraries and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
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before it was adopted in 2015. Libraries in rural Ghana have been using tech to promote
healthy pregnancies and childbirth, getting out useful information and connecting
expectant mothers with midwives.​14​ In Serbia, a library has served as a networking hub
for farmers to collaborate on protecting crops through lowering soil acidity.​15​ In wealthier
areas all across Europe, libraries are responding to the refugee crisis with innovative
services and open doors. These services include multilingual workshops on refugee’s
rights, outreach in immigrant communities, and literacy programs aimed at bridging the
language barrier.​16,17​ As shown by these examples, on the ground initiatives led by local
communities are what is going to bring about positive and effective change.

How can we get involved?

Libraries collaborating and working towards positive impact is not a new effort, though it
is becoming more popular and the issues that arise from engaging require an amount of
understanding and nuance.​18​ This includes meeting the user where they are at and
setting the goal of meeting their needs, not changing or dictating their behavior.​19

For libraries looking to get involved in work towards the SDGs, ​Technology & Social
Change Group (TASCHA) at the University of Washington Information School is one
example of how to take part from the USA.​20​ Emulating those libraries in Europe, which
have worked to assist asylum seeking refugees, would be a good place to start as
well.​16,17​ For institutions that wish to get involved, the Partnering Initiative and United
Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs are working on a handbook on best
practices in collaborative work towards the SDGs.​21​ Even individuals can make
contributions towards the 2030 Agenda by following the Lazy Person’s Guide to Saving
the World.​22

In conclusion:

With many ways to contribute, libraries across the globe are poised to have a positive
impact by partnering with the 2030 Agenda. Many are already doing so. Due to the
need for information access and collaboration, libraries have already been working
towards many of these ends for some time. A better world is possible and libraries
definitely have a role to play.
Libraries and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Loren Mindell - INFO 287 - Fall 2018

References
______________________________________________________________________

1.​https://www.un.org/pga/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/08/120815_outcome-docume
nt-of-Summit-for-adoption-of-the-post-2015-development-agenda.pdf

2​https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

3.​http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/Books/Evaluation_for_Agenda_2030.pdf

4.​https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/hlpf

5.​https://evalsdgs.org/about/

6.​https://forge.fh-potsdam.de/~IFLA/INSPEL/01-1kasu.pdf

7.​http://reports.weforum.org/outlook-global-agenda-2015/top-10-trends-of-2015/6-rising-
pollution-in-the-developing-world/?doing_wp_cron=1543613100.608174085617065429
6875

8.​https://library.un.org/content/libraries-and-sustainable-development

9.​https://www.technologyreview.com/s/404501/social-machines/

10.​http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2015/09/la_ipad_evaluation.html?c
mp=SOC-SHR-FB

11.​https://trends.ifla.org/files/trends/assets/documents/ifla_trend_report_2018.pdf

12.​https://da2i.ifla.org/

13.​https://www.ifla.org/globalvision

14.​https://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2013/11/How-a-Modern-Library-Keeps-Mot
hers-Healthy-in-Rural-Ghana#.XAHdIGhKjct

15.​http://jagodinalibrary.blogspot.com/2016/03/agricultural-lecture-in-glogovac.html

16.​http://www.eblida.org/activities/public-libraries-in-europe-refugees.html
Libraries and the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
Loren Mindell - INFO 287 - Fall 2018

17.​https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/public-libraries/publications/library-service-to-refugee
s.pdf

18.​https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=125
1&context=slissrj

19.​http://freerangelibrarian.com/2006/06/03/the-user-is-not-broken-a-meme-masqueradi
ng-as-a-manifesto/

20.​https://tascha.uw.edu/

21.​https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/2564Maximising_the_imp
act_of_partnerships_for_the_SDGs.pdf

22.​https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/takeaction/