ALA Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals
The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) wants to show the power of libraries in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has asked library associations around the world to join in a global effort.
ALA's Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), part of Julius C. Jefferson's initiatives is developing a multi-year strategic plan to increase participation by libraries in efforts to achieve the Goals.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN members, including the United States.
Resources:
From IFLA
Libraries, Development, and United Nations 2030 Agenda
Libraries and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Storytelling Manual
IFLA's Library Map of the World: SDG Stories
From ALA
What are the SDGs? What is the role of libraries? What can you do? fact sheet (PDF file)
PowerPoint presentation from ALA Connect Live presented on February 21, 2021. (PDF file)
Downloadable materials:
Create your own SDGs library chart! (Word Document) - You can now create your own SDG library chart by downloading the Word file and adding your library's projects.
Create your own SDGs poster: size 8 1/2 x 11 | size: A4 (PDF files)
Download and edit your own SDGs bookmarks: style 1 | style 2 (PDF files) | Printable bookmarks with crop marks: Style 1 | Style 2 (PDF Files)
Downloadable example chart for Academic Libraries
Los Angeles Public Library SDGs chart
Libraries helping communities meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in the times of COVID-19
Thanks to the Los Angeles Public Library for designing this chart. (click on image to view full page, PDF file, 258 kb)
PAST WEBINAR Recordings
ALA Task Force on United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals: libraries contributing to meet the SDGs
Date and Time: June 17, 2021
Description: Join us for a webinar featuring the work of the ALA Task Force on the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals which is an initiative from ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr. Task Force members will bring examples about how academic, public, and school libraries can help communities move closer to development with information and actions. The event features many examples of how libraries are already doing this and other creative activities for all types of libraries!
Speakers:
-ALA President Julius C. Jefferson Jr.
-ALA Task Force on the UN 2030 SDGs, Chair Loida Garcia-Febo
-ALA Task Force on the UN 2030 SDGs, Member Robin Kear
-ALA Task Force on the UN 2030 SDGs, Member Daniela Skokovic
-IFLA Manager, Policy and Advocacy, Stephen Wyber
Recording now available - (482 MB)
Title: Broadband as a Human Right
May 4, 2021
Description: The digital divide continues to exist worldwide while authorities debate the question: Is access to the internet a right or privilege? The current pandemic reveals just how critical reliable and fast access to the internet is for access to education, health care and the ability to work at home during this pandemic. The subsequent shutdown of libraries and social service agencies that provided access to those without it revealed the fragility of the safety net for those who are being left behind. The UN Sustainable Development Goals success is dependent on a connected and informed citizenry and access to broadband is essential. Should government broadband policy be rights based? What would it take to end the digital divide and insure access to broadband as a human right? Join us to hear how library and industry leaders are addressing this goal.
Link to recording (870 MB)
Title: "Philippine Libraries and Their Roles in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)"
Description: To highlight the 30th LIS commemoration with the theme LibREAL, a portmanteau for the word libraries and the acronym for Relate, Engage, Advocate, and Lead, the National Library of the Philippines and the American Library Association’s Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in collaboration with the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI), The Philippines Association of School Librarians, Inc. (PASLI), Association of Librarians in the Public Sector, Inc. (ALPS), Association of Special Libraries in the Philippines (ASLP), Council of Deans and Heads of LIS (CODHLIS), Philippine Association of Academic and Research Libraries (PAARL), and Philippines Association of Teachers of Library and Information Science, Inc. (PATLS).
Presentations included:
- “The Role of Libraries in UN SDG’s” - Loida Garcia-Febo, Chair ALA Task Force UN SDG’s
- “SDG’s and Best Practices in South Asia” - Dr. B. Shadrach, Commenwealth of Learning, Canada
- “Libraries as Social Change Agents” - Donna Scheeder, Past-President, IFLA
- “How Libraries are Helping Communities to Meet the SDGS and Development”
- Robin Kear, Liaison Librarian, University of Pittsburgh
- John Szabo - Library Director, Los Angeles Public Library
- Erika Long, School Librarian, Nashville Public Schools
- Closing Remarks: Caesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, Director, National Library of Philippines
RECORDING available (opens in new window)
German Library Association hosted to promote work in the area of the SDGs by library associations. Presentations by Australian, French and U.S. library associations | Bibliotheken und Nachhaltigkeit - die 17 Ziele im Fokus der Bibliotheken weltweit.
RECORDING available (opens in new window)
Title: Libraries Contributing to Meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals: a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere
Description: Join our first webinar highlighting inspiring stories from libraries in Australia, France and Germany presented by leaders of library associations in those countries. We will discuss how libraries are helping communities meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the websites they have created to share these stories. We hope the webinar encourages US libraries to connect the dots between their existing services and the way they are already meeting the SDGs.
Date: June 9, 2020
Speakers: (in order of presentations)
Moderator: Loida Garcia-Febo, ALA Chair, UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Task Force, ALA Immediate Past President
- Athanasios Giannakopoulos, Director The Dag Hammarskjöld Library at the United Nations, New York
- Vicki McDonald, State Librarian and Chief Executive Officer, State Library of Queensland, Australia. Australian Library and Information Association President 2017-2018. Chair, Professional Committee at IFLA
- Raphaëlle BATS, International Relations Officer of the National School of Libraries and Information Sciences (Enssib), Cfibd’s Governing Board member
- Hella Klauser, Internationale Kooperation, German Library Association, Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e.V., Kompetenznetzwerk für Bibliotheken
RECORDING: Listen to recording.
Task Force members:
- Loida Garcia-Febo, Chair, ALA Past-President, International Library Consultant
- Connie Champlain, Retired
- Tina Chan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Robin Kear, University of Pittsburgh
- Erika Long, Thurgood Marshall Middle School, Nashville
- Donna Scheeder, IFLA Past-President
- John Szabo, Los Angeles Public Library
- Evviva Weinraub, University of Buffalo
- Daniela Sokokovic, Narodna biblioteka Požega, Serbia
- Shaddy Shadrach, Commonwealth of Learning, Canada
Task Force Chair Garcia-Febo stated “I am thrilled about the opportunity to collaborate with librarians from academic, public and school libraries from U.S. library associations together with ALA President-Elect Julius C Jefferson Jr. to design a strategic plan to guide our efforts to increase awareness about the UN SDGs and how libraries are essential to development and their services are a platform to do good in the world by adopting sustainable thinking and transforming lives through education and lifelong learning.”