Sustainability has rightly become a major concern for our profession. From education and advocacy to library architecture and supportive workplace environments, library professionals are addressing all types of sustainability in their work. These recommended reads are part of American Libraries’ special report on libraries and sustainability.
Information for Sustainable Development: Technology, People, and Society
By G. G. Chowdhury and Sudatta Chowdhury
Sustainability is a worldwide endeavor, and the participation of information professionals in its achievement is front and center in this book. The authors parse out the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals and explain that the sharing of data and information for sustainable development is the main purview of library workers. This comprehensive study—complete with easy-to-follow explanations, research, and charts—shows academics, researchers, and librarians where they fit on the path to achieving these goals.
Facet Publishing, 2024. 288 p. $76.99. PBK. 978-1-78330-666-4.
Sustainable Online Library Services and Resources: Learning from the Pandemic
Edited by Mou Chakraborty, Samantha Harlow, and Heather Moorefield-Lang
During the COVID-19 pandemic, librarians and faculty found themselves adapting their services and resources for online use. Each chapter of this anthology focuses on a specific library’s experiences navigating a range of issues, such as hiring, training, teaching, engaging with patrons, and ensuring staff well-being. Case studies are filled with lessons learned, helpful charts, and templates for information gathering. This is an educational and hands-on guide for understanding how the online migration of library services necessitated by the pandemic succeeded—and the many ways these services can remain sustainable going forward.
Libraries Unlimited, 2022. 268 p. $63. PBK. 978-1-4408-7925-8. (Also available as an ebook.)
Management in a Changing World: How to Manage for Equity, Sustainability, and Results
By Jakada Imani, Monna Wong, and Bex Ahuja
Acknowledging the rapidly changing workplace, the evolving needs of a new generation of workers, and the necessity of healthy working environments, the authors take readers through the fundamentals of effective management, with an eye toward long-term sustainability. While the book was written with a nonprofit audience in mind, library leaders should also consider implementing these sustainability measures in their workplaces. Included are practices for hiring effectively, delegating efficiently, and defining clear roles and responsibilities. This extensive guide will be of interest to library administrators seeking to build (or maintain) a healthy, sustainable staff.
Wiley, 2023. 256 p. $32. PBK. 978-1-394-16579-7. (Also available as an ebook.)
Libraries and Sustainability: Programs and Practices for Community Impact
Edited by René Tanner, Adrian K. Ho, Monika Antonelli, and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich
Sustainability is not a new concept, but it is often overlooked. Organized into four main sections, the book covers a broad range of topics, from earning certification from the Sustainable Libraries Initiative to managing projects with a small staff to analyzing the social, economic, and cultural impact of sustainability efforts in libraries of all types and sizes. This resource is great for thinking about, talking about, and doing something about sustainability in libraries.
(See our March/April 2025 interview with Tanner and column by Aldrich).
ALA Editions, 2021. 176 p. $49.99. PBK. 978-0-8389-3794-5.
New Libraries in Old Buildings: Creative Reuse
Edited by Petra Hauke, Karen Latimer, and Robert Niess
Through essays and case studies featuring both public and academic libraries across the globe, this detailed volume—published by the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions—includes the architectural, cultural, theoretical, and practical aspects of adapting existing structures and repurposing them as libraries. The writers examine the compatibility of libraries with the creative reuse of buildings. This is a fascinating read for those who are researching restructuring their collection, preparing to embark on rehousing existing collections, or considering integrating sustainability into physical library structures.
De Gruyter Saur, 2021. 388 p. $114. 978-3-1106-7951-9. (Also available as an ebook.)
25 Ready-to-Use Sustainable Living Programs for Libraries
Edited by Ellyssa Valenti Kroski
Taking inspiration from her own life, Kroski has gathered a wealth of examples, advice, and resources that will suit libraries of various sizes and budgets. Grouped into four main categories (gardening, preservation, pioneer crafts, and homesteading), the chapters are rife with clever and inventive ways to implement and run programs with appeal and accessibility in mind. Each program includes estimated costs, step-by-step instructions, and information for possible follow-up programs. Whether new to programming or looking for a refresh, librarians can find plenty of ideas here for patrons to enjoy.
ALA Editions, 2022. 208 p. $59.99. PBK. 978-0-8389-3649-8.
