Digital resources of the American Library Association for green and sustainable libraries

Abstract

The experience of Russian libraries in educating ecological (ecological information) culture is widely discussed in domestic professional media. However, in Russia we feel the lack of information on relevant activities of foreign libraries and/or library associations. The authors offer their analysis of digital resources in sustainable development, green movement and ecological education of the population as provided by the American Library Association (ALA) and presented on ALA website. The resources comprise information on the efforts of ALA structural units related to organization of sustainable development activities at libraries; ALA politics and guiding materials; the interactive blog on libraries’ supporting sustainable communities; the catalog of new books in the “American Libraries” series within the subject scope “Sustainable development at the libraries”, and key international documents on sustainable development. The concept of three components of sustainable development of the society – Economy, Ecology and Equity – aka Three E, which ALA considers to be fundamental for sustainable libraries, is analyzed. Based on their analysis, the authors suggest that libraries will design and realize their own projects unifying all Three E. They conclude that further studies of the efforts of foreign libraries and/or library associations in ecological education and development of ecological (ecological information) culture, and, in particular, the study of relevant digital (electronic) resources are vitally important for Russian libraries and library science, including commencing digital (electronic) library science.Ecology and studying the related experience of libraries are among the major lines of activities of the Russian National Public Library for Science and Technology (RNPLS&T). The paper is prepared within the framework of the State Order № 075-01300-20-00.