Librarians Sarah Tribelhorn and Margaret Henderson Encourage Libraries to be Leaders in Sustainability
The San Diego State University Library is excited to announce the release of an edited volume of Advances in Librarianship, "Case Exemplars of How Academic Libraries Promote Sustainable Communities," by Emerald Publishing. Co-edited by Sciences and Sustainability Librarian Sarah Tribelhorn and Bharat Mehra (from the University of Alabama), this collection marks a pivotal shift in librarianship, moving institutions away from being "hidden behind inaccessible stacks" to becoming active leaders in global and local sustainability.
This edited collection offers a comprehensive look at sustainability efforts across a diverse range of academic institutions, including public and private research universities, vocational programs, and community colleges. By focusing on the intersection of social equity, economic feasibility, and environmental stewardship, the volume provides valuable insights into how libraries globally nurture community resilience. The book is structured into five thematic sections that explore the global impact of academic libraries as they:
- Serve the core mission of higher education
- Extend education into sustainable cities
- Become deeply embedded in their local communities
- Form innovative partnerships for greater impact
- Achieve cross-cutting impacts across various sustainability initiatives.
The volume moves beyond theory to showcase "out-of-the-box" partnerships and cutting-edge work led by academic libraries. Through a mix of research, case studies, and reflective narratives, the chapters illustrate how libraries operationalize the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to drive real social change.
SDSU Leadership: The San Diego Circuit Consortium
A primary example of these "out-of-the-box" collaborations is found in Chapter 14, authored by Margaret Henderson and Sarah Tribelhorn. They detail the work of the San Diego Circuit consortium’s San Diego Information Issues for Social Impact Team, which acts as a vital agent for social impact.
Their work has directly supported SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through two major initiatives:
- Combating Health Misinformation: Following a local declaration of health misinformation as a public health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, the consortium developed the San Diego Health Information Partnership. They created a toolkit for library workers and produced health fact sheets in nine languages, including Arabic, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
- Advancing Climate Resilience: The team’s focus has since expanded to environmental justice. By utilizing the San Diego Climate Equity Index, they identified and engaged vulnerable populations disproportionately affected by climate change, hosting resource fairs and author talks that included ASL and Spanish interpretation for maximum accessibility.
"Case Exemplars of How Academic Libraries Promote Sustainable Communities" stands as a "foundational reference" designed to inspire libraries worldwide to leverage their power and privilege for the public good. By adopting these innovative strategies and global perspectives, academic libraries are proving they are the essential "connective tissue" needed for a resilient and sustainable world.
