Are Academic Libraries Doing Enough to Support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? A State-of-the-Art Review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the role that academic libraries play in realizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To answer the research question, "How are academic libraries contributing to the attainment of SDGs?" a State-Of-The-Art Review was conducted on SDG contributions from academic libraries. Literature searches were executed using various databases and hand-searching techniques. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, leading to the selection of 25 papers. A majority of these papers represent institutions located in Asia (26.32%), Africa (21.05%), International (15.79%), Europe (10.53%), North America (5.26%), and Oceania (5.26%). During analysis, instances of "SDG washing" (where librarians exaggerated their contribution towards achieving SDGs) were noted. Targets 4:4, 16:10, 4:7, and 12:8 demonstrated closely interlinked relationships, highlighting the importance of providing access to educational resources, job opportunities, and skill development programs, which form an integral part underpinning SDG programming across different library activities depending on leadership roles, organizational culture, individual agency, partnership policies, etc. Furthermore, a Pearson correlation R test revealed positive linear relationships between Target 4:4 and both targets 16:10 & 17:17; these key targets are fundamental for programming under SDG but may vary across different library activities depending on leadership roles, organizational culture, individual agency, partnership policies, etc. It is important to note that evidence from the sample size, consisting only of 164 libraries, should be interpreted with caution as it may not represent all academic libraries globally. The paper highlights the scarcity of sustainability literacy within existing literature, with relatively few examples. Some librarians remain unaware or skeptical about incorporating the SDGs into business as usual library activities. This presents an opportunity for change through awareness-raising efforts and adoption strategies. Moreover, academic librarians must consider various factors when evaluating SDG programs while reporting Global Impact Framework-based outcomes, as it is a more accurate measurement than goal-level assessments. Future studies could explore regional differences in achieving GIF-based outcomes, thereby tailoring recommendations accordingly.