Sustainability in the SDSU Library

The goal of the Sustainable Libraries Initiative Certification Program (SLCP) is to provide a benchmark of sustainability as outlined by the program to understand where the SDSU Library has sustainability challenges and to propose possible solutions to challenges going forward. The focus of the SLCP is to provide out library and library administration and leaders with a tested and structured pathway toward sustainability.

Since 2019, sustainability has been included as a core value of librarianship by the American Library Association (ALA), which encompasses environmentally sound, economically feasible, and socially equitable practices. Furthermore, the Association of College and Academic Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education has challenged academic libraries regarding sustainability. These challenges include intentionally including sustainability in instruction and research services, developing sustainability initiatives, and community engagement. Based on the recent work on the UN SDGs in the SDSU Library, the work is being done, but not clearly articulated. In addition, there is no benchmark for these efforts. Therefore, the goal of this certification program is to review sustainability practices in the SDSU Library through an extensive analysis of current practices and policies. This thorough analysis will provide a baseline of sustainability efforts to understand the strengths and challenges in this regard, and where to intentionally focus sustainability efforts in the future.

Through the process of the SLCP certification the library has demonstrated a strong commitment to integrating sustainability into its operations, policies, and community engagement efforts. The many aspects of the certification included analyzing our campus involvement, community engagement, social well-being, financial sustainability, collection and services, organizational commitment, operational benchmarking, education and influence, and water, energy, waste, and transportation management. The report on what we submitted can be found here (minus the attachments). We tried to look at all aspects of sustainability in the library, but owing to time and resources, we did not include everything, but provided an overview. In summary, the SDSU Library's engagement in sustainability and related initiatives is transforming its role on campus. It directly supports student success by providing essential academic resources, reducing costs, enhancing well-being, and creating engaging spaces and programs. Simultaneously, it serves as a vital partner in advancing the university's broader sustainability, diversity, and strategic goals, increasing its visibility, relevance, and value across the entire campus community. Our final presentation can be found here.