A Comparative Study on How Academic Libraries Contribute to Sustainability
in: Case Exemplars of How Academic Libraries Promote Sustainable Communities, Sarah K. Tribelhorn,Bharat Mehra, Editor, Emerald Group Publishing Ltd, Leeds, pp.255-267, 2026
- Publication Type: Book Chapter / Chapter Vocational Book
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1108/s0065-283020250000059023
- Publisher: Emerald Group Publishing Ltd
- City: Leeds
- Page Numbers: pp.255-267
- Editors: Sarah K. Tribelhorn,Bharat Mehra, Editor
- Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Sustainability, encompassing environmental, economic, and social dimensions,is central to creating a more inhabitable future, and the United Nations (UN)Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address multifaceted challenges,including information access and education inequalities. Libraries, particularlyacademic libraries, have a core mission to provide and disseminate sustain-able information, positioning them as key contributors to achieving the SDGs.This comparative study investigates the diverse roles of academic libraries inadvancing these goals across Azerbaijan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Greece, NorthMacedonia, and Türkiye, chosen for their regional proximity and similarsocio-cultural and librarianship contexts. Drawing upon survey data, the studyexplores the involvement of academic libraries in sustainable development within these countries and the factors influencing their engagement. Despite alow response rate, the findings highlight a growing awareness among academiclibraries and librarians toward sustainable development, revealing diverse strat-egies, successful approaches, and challenges encountered. Ultimately, the studyunderscores the vital role of academic libraries as catalysts for knowledge dis-semination, community empowerment, and innovation in advancing the globalsustainability agenda, offering valuable insights for policymakers and librarystakeholders.