Sustainable development goals

The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), sometimes called the Global Goals, or the United Nations 2030 Agenda, are a shared vision for peace, prosperity, and the protection of the planet. At the heart of the SDGs are 17 goals, each of which is an urgent call to action for the realisation of a better world.

10 Sustainable Development Goal stretch targets are proposed for libraries in Australia from 2020-2030, following a period of refinement from September 2019. Targets address literacy; access to knowledge; equitable access; culture and heritage; sustainable communities; contribution to health and wellbeing; diversity and gender equality; lifelong learning; and global citizenship. 

The report tracks the current status of lead agencies against the SDG stretch targets as of January 2022. 

The values and activities of library and information professionals which make them essential include trust in the profession, freedom of information, evidence-based practice, digital expertise and inclusion, respectful work with indigenous knowledge, support to freedom of expression, equitable access to information, support of the right to privacy, open access principles and cross-sector collaboration.

10 Sustainable Development Goal stretch targets are proposed for libraries in Australia from 2020-2030, following a period of refinement from September 2019. Targets address literacy; access to knowledge; equitable access; culture and heritage; sustainable communities; contribution to health and wellbeing; diversity and gender equality; lifelong learning; and global citizenship. The report outlines activities and measurements to allow progress to be tracked. 

Public libraries are highly regarded institutions and leaders in the community, with significant influence on local government. The purpose of this report is to support leaders in the Victorian library sector to leverage their relationship with local government and policy makers; and to share their stories and contribute to federal reporting on the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This document presents a three-step way to for councils and public libraries to make a direct connection between sustainability projects at a local level and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of the world's 2030 Agenda.

Promotional materials (poster) listing and stating support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Promotional materials (poster) listing and stating support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Promotional materials (poster) listing and stating support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), through the Australian Public Library Alliance (APLA), has identified the need for an easy way for library services to identify, collate and report on the activities which contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This template identifies the 10 goals that are most appropriate to Australian libraries and provides ideas for the kinds of content under each goal.