Library as a Sustainability Leader
Creating sustainable Library and Resilient Communities
Library as a Sustainability Leader: Creating sustainable Library and Resilient Communities. Most scientists around the world now agree that the planet is under stress, and the climate change is already impacting human health. This means people and institutions will need to change their behaviors so they can begin repairing the planet. Most academic institutions explicitly state sustainable strategies, which include commitment to sustaining the earth and its environment. The time is right for libraries to act as role models for sustainability by giving accurate information on various aspects of sustainability topics and help communities become more environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically feasible.
The university Library of Southern Denmark is playing a key role in the changing environment of research and education across university. Having the proper background, structures, infrastructures and skills, library have the main role in the implementation and the promotion of the different aspects of Open Science. The library advocates within institutions to develop open access policies and roadmaps. Moreover, the library provides support to transform student and employee ideas into real, ongoing projects. The support is provided in the form of advice or networking. There is also access to materials on the green transition and global measurement, which inform and motivate students to implement green measures in their own everyday life.
Najmeh Shaghaei, PhD (The University of Southern Denmark Library)