Developing guidelines for green libraries has been on the IFLA Environment, Sustainability and Libraries (ENSULIB) Section agenda since its foundation as a Special Interest Group in 2009. With the elevation of ENSULIB to IFLA section status in 2021, the project was identified as a priority.

The publication, which is expected around March 2025, is the result of a collaborative effort among individuals from across the globe. Its development is led by ENSULIB Standing Committee members and supported by members of other IFLA Sections and Regional Divisions.

The Guidelines provide a framework for the establishment, operationalisation, and evaluation of new and existing green libraries. They aim to help promote the achievement of the 17 UN SDGs in various kinds of library and their communities – including local municipal, school and university libraries. The Guidelines are aimed at librarians, library administrators, legislative and administrative bodies, designers and architects, facility managers, and other stakeholders responsible for the creation, management and funding of libraries of all types. Using the Guidelines, planners should determine the priorities for their library and consider what is feasible within its context. They may either be aiming for minimum standards, to improve on existing provisions, or to achieve best practice.

Recognising that in many countries it may not be possible to implement the full scope of the Guidelines, it is hoped that at least some the opportunities they offer can be achieved in most contexts. As such, the Guidelines also provide a starting point for environments where green libraries are not widely evident or well supported.