LIBRARIES AND SUSTAINABILITY

a narrative review of the literature on library practices and contributions to sustainable development

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse how library practices and contributions focused on sustainability are being addressed in the scientific literature. It is understood that libraries, as spaces for information mediation, have a social role in contributing to the development of the environment of which they are an integral part, to improve the quality of life of the communities in which they operate. In this context, sustainability takes on a prominent role, especially considering the catastrophic events the world has been experiencing. Thus, libraries need to contribute to sustainable development not only by adopting environmentally responsible practices in their management and infrastructure but also through educational, cultural, and informational initiatives aimed at communities. This is a bibliographic study with a qualitative approach and descriptive nature, conducted through a narrative review of the literature. The survey was carried out in the SciELO database between January and March 2026, considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data analysis was performed using content analysis. The results show that sustainability initiatives undertaken by libraries are multidimensional in nature, involving environmental, social, cultural, educational, and informational aspects. It was found that libraries’ contribution to sustainability goes beyond the idea of reducing resource consumption, encompassing information mediation, user education, socio-environmental awareness, and alignment with the SDGs. It is concluded that sustainability, even though it exists in libraries, needs to be expanded to other types of libraries, as this responsibility does not fall solely on public and community libraries.