The Green Libraries Partnership is pleased to publish the results of its sector-wide Green Libraries Survey undertaken to evaluate and lay the ground for developing a UK-wide, cross-sector, long-term programme to support public libraries in building environmental understanding and action, themselves, and with their communities.

The results from the Green Libraries Survey give an overview of where the sector sits today with an understanding of what public libraries are already doing to be green, what they would like to do, and what would help make this possible. It was developed by Julie’s Bicycle and Libraries Connected in collaboration with the Green Libraries Partnership and supported by a focus group comprising representatives of 16 library services across England from chief operating officers and directors to engagement officers and librarians.

Established in 2022, the Green Libraries Partnership is a multi-year research and development programme led by CILIP working with Libraries Connected, the British Library and Julie’s Bicycle in response to COP 26 and the long-term climate commitments made by libraries and local authorities. The partnership is funded by Arts Council England and chaired by Emma Noyce, Hampshire County Council’s Assistant Director for Culture and Information Services. It is guided by a vision to build a better future for planet and people, empowered and supported by librarians and library workers.

The survey gives a snapshot of the progress already made by the sector in taking environmental initiative where libraries are in their environmental journey as well as providing an overview of challenges, opportunities and ideas to support future action. In addition to the survey, the Partnership also developed four case studies going into the detail of different library approaches to environmental action and engagement.

Findings indicate libraries’ potential and desire to both step up their own environmental actions and to inform, inspire and support environmental change with their communities. Looking forward, the Partnership identified three key enabling factors for positive environmental change in the sector: exchange between libraries on key actions and solutions; strengthening the link between local authorities and library services on green policy, and training and empowering library staff to take action.

Key challenges for library services include limited autonomy over building and asset related decision-making, difficulty in accessing information on policies and action plans from local councils, difficulty in showcasing impact and lack of funding and time.

A number of initiatives are already up and running as the sector gets behind this important initiative: Green Libraries online hub – a platform to share resources, knowledge, insights and case studies to inform and inspire sector action Green Libraries Manifesto - a shared set of commitments for libraries to sign up for and follow in order to lead by example through their own environmental actions thus using their influence and reach to inform and inspire people to take positive action Green Libraries Grants – small grants totalling £40,000 awarded across 15 library services for environmental action and engagement projects in 2022.

CILIP CEO Nick Poole said: “I am delighted that CILIP is leading on this exciting and important initiative to support libraries achieve their environmental goals, engage the public and take a lead role in our national response to the climate crisis. Sustainability is a major theme for CILIP, and we are pleased to be working with partners such as the Arts Council England, Libraries Connected, Julie’s Bicycle and the British Library to establish this ambitious Green Libraries programme.”

For the full survey report and case studies: www.cilip.org.uk/GreenLibraries

Sign the Green Libraries Manifesto on behalf of your library service: www.cilip.org.uk/GreenLibrariesManifesto