By Loida Garcia-Febo, IFLA Governing Board Member, Chair of Management of Library Associations. Article originally published on the IFLA CPDWL Blog (September 2023) and updated in January 2026.

The following is a compilation of resources related to IFLA and librarians’ advocacy to place libraries on the agenda of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and benefit libraries and communities worldwide. As this work is ongoing and has covered a span of years starting in 2014, it is sensible to note that there might be some documents that will need to be added.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN members during the UN General Assembly in September 2015. Libraries worldwide are essential to development and are showing the power of libraries in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

IFLA members and staff members started advocating at the United Nations in full during the 8th session of the UN Open Working Group (OWG) between February 3-7 2014. There, IFLA presented the event “Data accountability for the post-2015 development agenda together with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA). The meeting brought together various initiatives and key stakeholders active in the field to discuss how to facilitate the monitoring of the new development framework, improved data collection and use of data in evidence-based policy making and the role of intermediaries in fostering transparency and participation. Loida Garcia-Febo, IFLA Governing Board member then, presented the role of libraries in the data revolution and further promoted the central role libraries play. Summary about IFLA’s participation, papers presented, and related articles developed by IFLA are here in English and Spanish.

Since then, IFLA together with varied members leaders from different regions of the world, has established a presence at the United Nations. First, as a member of the UN Open Working Group that collaborated with UN members, permanent representatives, civil society groups, ambassadors and UN units to contribute to what would become the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IFLA played a key role advocating for culture, education, and ICTs among other crucial matters for libraries and librarians. Libraries and librarians worldwide achieved a big win when the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals included Target 16.10, part of Goal 16:

UN SDG Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

IFLA’s page Libraries, Development and the United Nations Development Agenda provides insights about the work of IFLA in this area throughout the years.

Currently, results for the search term “United Nations” in the IFLA website total 536 results. These reflect an amazing activity lead by IFLA in different fronts related to the United Nations including the Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the United Nations created a page featuring “Contributions of Libraries to the SDGs.”

Over the years, many IFLA Sections, Advisory Groups, and Special Interest Groups have enthusiastically included the UN SDGs in their activities. This year, the Management of Library Associations Section (MLAS) launched a webinar series under the theme “SDGs and Library Associations.” The series, a collaboration between IFLA MLAS, IFLA New Professionals, ENSULIB and Regional Divisions, was presented in March, May, June and July 2023 and featured various regions of the world.

IFLA has engaged many members in library advocacy at the United Nations. For instance, on July 17, 2017, the IFLA Leaders were part of the IFLA delegation to the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) and IFLA launched the Development and Access to Information Report. Another useful resource from 2017 that is still used as a reference by many interested in the topic of libraries and the SDGs is the IFLA Toolkit: Libraries, Development and the United Nations 2030 Agenda (Revised version – August 2017).

In recent years, engagement from members at the UN continue. The IFLA delegation to the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) in 2022 included librarians from Jamaica, Latvia, Argentina, Sri Lanka, USA Bostwana, and Lesotho who met with their ministers and spoke at various forums from the UN representing their countries and advocating for libraries.This past July IFLA also sent a delegation to the UN HLPF 2023 which included librarians from all regions of the world, North America, Latin America & the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia/Oceania, Middle East and North Africa, and North America. These librarians met with ministers from their countries and some of them spoke on the floor about how libraries contribute to the SDGs. See results from the IFLA delegation at the HLPF2023 here. IFLA returns to the UN with two events for the Sustainable Development Action Weekend.

On July 5, 2023, IFLA was invited to speak at a High-level interactive dialogue on Culture  and Sustainable Development convened by the President of the United Nations General Assembly in partnership with UNESCO titled “Culture as a global public good: Filling SDG implementation gaps beyond 2030.” Loida Garcia-Febo represented IFLA and advocated for culture as part of the SDGs which IFLA has championed together with other organizations.

It is relevant to note that library associations around the world have heard IFLA’s call and have joined works to promote and include libraries in the UN SDGs. Some of these are: the Serbian Library Association which dedicated its 2017 annual conference to the SDGs, the Latvian Library Association which President spoke at the UN HLPF2022, the Australian Library Association with a myriad of resources including guides and teaching modules, and the American Library Association’s Task Force on the UN 2030 SDGs developing SDGs charts with examples for different types of libraries and free downloadable resources for libraries and the ALA UN SDGs Committee which has collaborated with IFLA to present joint programs during recent UN events.

In July 2023 the ALA collaborated with IFLA to present two virtual events during the days of the UN High Level Political Forum 2023:

  • “Ea: Indigenous Agency and Abundance: Impacts of Indigenous librarians and libraries on Indigenous communities, health, and inclusion and the 12th International Indigenous Librarians’ Forum.” Recording: com/3xf8trpy
  • “Libraries and Women Empowerment at the Intersection of Development.” Recording: com/f3ae8hyy

Additionally, in September 26, 2023 the ALA IRC UN SDG Committee in collaboration with IFLA and the IFLA Indigenous Matters Section presented: “Library services to indigenous populations worldwide: rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity” during the days of the United Nations General Assembly. The event feature idndigenous library leaders in a dialogue about challenges and opportunities related to library services to indigenous populations in different regions of the world. They discussed themes such as rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity, social protection systems, climate change and cultural rights which reflect the overarching theme of the 78th UN General Assembly: “‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.” Recording available on the ALA IRC UN SDG page.

Speakers featured:

  • Camille Callison, University Librarian at University of the Fraser Valley,Member IFLA Indigenous Matters Section
  • Feather Maracle, CEO & Director of Library Services Six Nations Public Library,Member IFLA Indigenous Matters Section
  • Collence Chisita, Researcher/ Lecturer University of South Africa, Member IFLA Indigenous Matters Section
  • Cindy Hohl, Director of Branch Operations Kansas City Public Library,  ALA President-Elect, Member IFLA Indigenous Matters Section

The following are notable resources developed by IFLA to support library associations and libraries contributing to the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals:

Libraries and the Sustainable Development Goals: A Storytelling Manual is an exceptional resource with guidance on How to tell your story Elements of compelling evidence-based storytelling.

The Library Map of the World is a unique database developed to house and provide access to SDG stories from different countries around the world.

IFLA together with members continue the key work of advocating for libraries and collaborating with UN members, permanent representatives, civil society groups, ambassadors and UN units to develop the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at various regional and global forums. Libraries are supporting social cohesion and are showing the power of libraries in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Updated in January 2026:

📅 2023 (Since Original Publication)

UN & SDG Summit Presence

  • SDG Action Weekend and Summit — New York (Sep 16–19, 2023):
    IFLA participated in the SDG Summit and Action Weekend at the United Nations, highlighting libraries’ role in sustainable development and engaging in events focused on knowledge, data monitoring, and SDG implementation. (IFLA)

Joint Sessions with UNESCO

  • IFLA + UNESCO at WLIC 2023 (Aug 22, 2023):
    A joint session at the World Library and Information Congress emphasized libraries’ contributions to building inclusive knowledge societies and sustainable development. (UNESCO)

Culture2030Goal Campaign

  • Culture2030Goal campaign call (June 8, 2023):
    Through the Culture2030Goal network, of which IFLA is a founding member, IFLA called for culture’s inclusion in the SDG Summit’s declaration, spotlighting culture as a development driver. (IFLA)

📅 2024

Advocacy & UN SDG Discussions

  • High‑Impact Initiatives for SDGs (Jan 5, 2024):
    IFLA highlighted how the UN’s High‑Impact Initiatives — designed to accelerate SDG implementation — offer new ways libraries can engage at national and global levels, especially in evidence, localisation, and knowledge roles. (IFLA)

UN High‑Level Political Forum 2024

UN General Assembly 79 (September 2024) –

  • In‑Person Advocacy & Event: At the 79th UN General Assembly, the ALA IRC UN SDG Subcommittee hosted its first in‑person side-event tied to SDGs advocacy: “Libraries Powering the United Nations Global Digital Compact.” A panel highlighting libraries’ contributions to digital inclusion, equity, access to information, and SDG principles. ALA’s program explicitly noted that advocacy at the UN was “inspired by library advocacy carried out by IFLA and its members.” https://www.ala.org/news/2024/09/ala-active-79th-session-united-nations-general-assembly

📅 2025

IFLA–UNESCO Advocacy & Endorsements

  • School Library Manifesto Endorsement (Apr 23–24, 2025):
    The IFLA–UNESCO School Library Manifesto was endorsed by the 13th session of UNESCO’s IFAP Council, connecting libraries explicitly to learning, equity, and knowledge‑based development goals. (UNESCO)

IFLA Strategic & Action Plans

  • IFLA Strategy 2024–2029:
    IFLA adopted a new strategy that frames sustainable futures through knowledge and information, aligning organizational goals with long‑term sustainable development and the SDGs. https://www.ifla.org/units/strategy/
  • Environment, Sustainability & Libraries Section Action Plan (2023–2025):
    ENSULIB released a multi‑year action plan focused in part on supporting SDG‑related environmental and sustainability objectives through libraries. A March 2024 update continued this work into 2025. (IFLA Repository)

UN High‑Level Political Forum 2025 (July 2025)

HLPF WSIS+20 (December 2025)

Brief on Key Themes Across 2023–2025

🔹 Sustained UN Engagement

  • IFLA’s presence at UN HLPF events (2023, 2024, 2025) with delegations and advocacy, including side events and position papers linking libraries to SDGs and global policy dialogues.

🔹 Knowledge & Data for SDGs

  • Reports and position papers emphasizing libraries as knowledge intermediaries — contributing to SDG partnerships, open science, evidence use, and national Voluntary National Reviews.

🔹 Partnerships and Manifestos

  • Endorsement of the School Library Manifesto (2025) and collaboration with UNESCO reinforce libraries’ roles in education, development, and inclusive information societies.

🔹 Strategic Library Action

  • Multi‑year action plans, organizational strategy (IFLA 2024–2029), the IFLA Trend Report, and the preparations toward IFLA 100 reflect sustained internal alignment with SDG principles and global development frameworks.