Oulu City Library implements Sustainable Library 2030 Roadmap

Oulu City Library is implementing a Sustainable Library 2030 Roadmap to support libraries’ sustainability work. The roadmap is produced by Oulu City Library and it is based on the United Nation’s 2030 sustainable development goals (SDG) and the environmental goals set by the city library in 2015.

The roadmap defines the main development areas and sets detailed implementation plans for each area. Four key targets of the Sustainable Library 2030 roadmap includes increasing the environmental awareness, reducing the environmental burden, responsible and sustainable building, and the sustainable library of the future. The roadmap also lists two special target areas for further advancement: furthering librarians’ regional professional development work by smart use of resources, and promoting better remote work practices.

Although all 17 SDGs are relevant and applies to libraries to some level, Oulu City Library decided to take 11 SDGs, which best reflect the aims of their sustainability plan, as the basis for their roadmap. These are:

1. No poverty
3. Good health and wellbeing
4. Quality education
7. Affordable and clean energy
9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
16. Peace, justice, and strong institutions
17. Partnerships

The overall aim is that sustainable development will permeate through all areas of libraries’ everyday work. The current Sustainable Library 2030 Roadmap runs until the end of 2022 and the next one will be made latest in 2023.

Read the original news in Finnish on Kirjastot.fi and you can find more information in Finnish on Oulu City Library website and the summary of the Sustainable Library 2030 Roadmap in Finnish.