Three new partners join The Green Libraries Campaign to explore and create new opportunities for environmental and sustainable action in Libraries across all sectors.

RLUK, CONUL and the National Library of Scotland join the Green Libraries Campaign to support the campaign's growth and evolution for new green initiatives and activities and ensure cross-sector and across the UK collaboration.

Yvonne Morris, Projects and Programmes Manager at CILIP said:

“The ambition of the Green Libraries Campaign is to see all libraries contribute to a sustainable and greener future for all. This means deepening our collaborative efforts to empower all to share knowledge, resources and best practice.

“Together, we can contribute to a more sustainable future for people and planet.”

David Prosser, Executive Director of Research Libraries UK (RLUK) said:

“We are excited to work with the Green Libraries partners to further bring issues around sustainability to the research library community. Our members have significant physical and digital estates, both of which offer challenges in moving towards net zero targets. From large library buildings at the heart of university campuses to extensive digital holdings we seek to meet the information needs of users in a sustainable and responsible manner.”

Research Libraries UK is a consortium of 39 of the leading and most significant research libraries in the UK and Ireland.

Laragh Quinney from the National Library of Scotland said:

“I am very excited to join the Green Libraries Partnership. The National Library of Scotland has a longstanding commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and has achieved a reduction of almost 75% in our greenhouse gas emissions since 2009. We are eager to partner with other libraries to share good practice and support each other to reach net zero.

“I’ve spent the past year helping to develop a Carbon Literacy for Libraries shareable course. I have loved hearing about the amazing climate action work libraries and librarians are doing in their communities. I believe libraries can play a major role in the transition to a greener world.”

Coral Black from The Consortium of National and University Libraries (CONUL) said:

“I am honoured and excited to join the CILIP Green Libraries Partnership, representing CONUL, as we unite our efforts to champion sustainability and foster environmentally conscious practices within our libraries. CONUL library members understand the importance of sustainability and are keen to contribute to the partnership, learn from other sectors and continue to develop best practice. The 2023 CONUL Annual Conference highlighted the great work and innovation taking place across Irish libraries under the conference theme of ‘sense and sustainability: environmental, economic and social sustainability in libraries’. Together, we can create a greener future, inspiring communities and leading by example.”

The Consortium of National and University Libraries is the representative body of research libraries in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

The Green Libraries team at CILIP is looking forward to working alongside the new partners, and our existing partners, Arts Council England, the British Library, Julie’s Bicycle, SCONUL, Libraries Connected and NHS Knowledge and Library Services Community of Practice to continue developing the Green Libraries Campaign.

The annual Green Libraries Week will run from 7 to 13 October this year. The second Green Libraries Conference will take place at The British Library’s Knowledge Centre on 25 November. Registration for the conference will open soon.