Page 1 of 9
European Journal of Applied Sciences – Vol. 11, No. 3
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
DOI:10.14738/aivp.113.15074
Okoroma, F. N. (2023). Library and Information Science Initiatives and Resources for Sustainable Development. European Journal
of Applied Sciences, Vol - 11(3). 829-837.
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom
Library and Information Science Initiatives and Resources for
Sustainable Development
Okoroma, F. N.
Kenneth Dike Library,
University of Ibadan, Nigeria
ABSTRACT
Library and information science remains the pivot that drives societal
development. Advanced economies are reputable for access and utilization of huge
quality hard information, as this is a driving force that triggers and sustains
development at all levels. Though Library and Information Science (LIS) through
their various activities and resources have been playing a key role towards
enhancing sustainable development, yet the literature output of LIS scholars
capturing sustainable developmentissues is relatively low when compared with the
increasing importance of the subject in the scientific world. This work focuses on
Library and information science activities and their resources as it relates to
sustainable development. The paper brings to the limelight, the role of Library and
Information science (LIS) activities and resources on sustainable development.
Such roles include awareness/ advocacy programs towards achieving sustainable
development goals. It showcases and maximizes access and impact of valuable
literatures, which trigger societal advancement. Again the development of
information literacy programme by LIS centers enhances both information access
and utilization capacity of the general public and decision makers. This on the long
run translates to wisdom and ideas that propel societal development. Others are
Open Knowledge Foundation, Green library and the development of Institutional
Repository, which is a crucial resource in the advancement and sustenance of the
different arms of the society, including the political, judiciary, health sector,
education, transportation, industries, power, commerce and infrastructure.
Keywords: Sustainable Development, Library Initiatives, Information Science, Resources,
Sustainable development goals.
INTRODUCTION
Library and Information Science is an academic discipline which deals with the organization
and dissemination of knowledge, embedded in print and digital resources. The modern Library
and information centers have metamorphosed into a beacon of knowledge; it is not about the
physical building, but an information system that brings the best and appropriate knowledge
to the global multidisciplinary community, through their quality collections, innovative
services and other activities/projects, with cutting edge facilities. It is a proven fact that
adequate relevant knowledge gives an individual power or ability and capacity to create (e.g.
wealth, economic change and diversification), modify and sustain what is already in existence
for the good of all in the society. This is in harmony with the meaning and focus of sustainable
development (SD) and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Sustainable development has
Page 2 of 9
Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom 830
European Journal of Applied Sciences (EJAS) Vol. 11, Issue 3, June-2023
been described as a development which meets up with the needs of the present generation
without compromising the future generations’ needs. It is the process of transforming a nation’s
economic, political, social, religious, educational and cultural values in order to improve human
dignity and general well being. (Blessing, 2018, WCED, 1987). If sustainable development is to
be attained, the citizens need to be well informed and knowledgeable, this can be achieved
through appropriate information resources selection, organizing and dissemination in various
formats taking into cognizance the development indicators as raised in the sustainable
development goals. Okoroma (2011) and Blessing (2018) ascertained that libraries play a
crucial role in realizing the Sustainable Development goals, as it is a centre for research,
education and nation development through information empowerment. Therefore for
sustainable development goals to be achieved, Librarians and information scientist must never
be left out in the discourse, as they are the custodians of the world’s wealth of knowledge. This
is imperative as one cannot separate development from knowledge, and knowledge is
residence in information.
While research and literature on sustainable development has been growing exponentially
during the recent time, publications emanating from Library Information Science background
remain relatively few. That shows that the productivity of LIS scholars dealing with the issue
does not reflect the topic’s rising prominence in the general scientific community. Again none
of the available literature actually captured the title “Library and Information Science activities
and resources, and sustainable development”
This paper focuses on Library and Information resources Science activities and resources as a
driving force in sustainable development.
The general objective of this work is to identify the roles of Library and Information Science in
Sustainable Development.
The specific objectives are to highlight the impact of :
1. Library and Information Science activities and resources as a driving force in sustainable
development.
2. Impact of Institutional repository (a key library resource) on sustainable development
LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
It is obvious that the political elites, organizations and the entire citizens need both knowledge
and wisdom to drive the economy and all other aspect of SDGs. All these can be found in
literature. Libraries and information centres are the custodians of these valuable literatures as
they capture and house billions of printed and electronic resources in different versions and
languages. According to Meschede, (2019) the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the
United Nations went into effect on January 1, 2016, with the main aim to eradicate poverty,
preserve the planet and to ensure prosperity. Shah (2012) added that SD covers a variety of
interrelated subjects in the areas of environmental, economic, political and social, all within the
confines of the world's natural resources to ensure that everyone enjoys peace and prosperity
by the year 2030.
Page 3 of 9
831
Okoroma, F. N. (2023). Library and Information Science Initiatives and Resources for Sustainable Development. European Journal of Applied
Sciences, Vol - 11(3). 829-837.
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/aivp.113.15074
The seventeen SD goals are: No Poverty; Zero Hunger, Good health and well being; Quality
education; Gender Equality; Clean water and Sanitation; Affordable and clean Energy; Decent
work and economic growth; Industry, Innovation and infrastructure; Reduction in inequality,
Sustainable cities and communities, Responsible consumption, Protection of the planet, Life
below water, Life on land; Peace and justice and Partnership for the goal. (United Nations,
2015). Nicholas & Perpetual (2015) added that SD has to do with the overall change and
improvement in every given society as related to individual progress.
Studies have shown that Library and Information Science (LIS) through their various activities
and resources have been playing a key role in raising awareness, and advocacy programs
towards enhancing sustainable development. (Christine Meschede and Maria Henkel (2019)
and Haridasan (2021). Haridasan, (2021) affirmed that Library websites serve as an
outstanding medium that showcases libraries and their information resources to the world.
This maximizes access and impact of the valuable literatures and triggers societal advancement.
Again, libraries have been reported to be promoting sustainable developmental goals through
various institutional initiatives. Some of the recent Library initiatives are the development of
information literacy skills which enhances the information access and utilization capacity of the
general public and decision makers. It is one thing for information to be available and yet
another thing for it to be speedily connected to the right users that needed it as at the time of
need. This is made possible through the acquisition of information literacy skills, provided
through libraries’ initiatives. An example of such initiative is the Open Knowledge Foundation.
This is a United Kingdom based global nonprofit network that promotes and shares information
without a fee, founded by Rufus Pollock in 2004. Others are: Green transformation for
sustainable development, Green library and Information Literacy in the Green Society. Green
library is a modern library that minimizes the consumption of electricity (in order to reduce
its effect on the environment) while maximizing the use of renewable energy sources eg solar
energy, air and the planting of trees and hedges around the library.
Furthermore, Libraries through the provision of conducive environment for their clientele for
continuous learning, relaxation and personal development is a strong feature that propels
analytic mind, improved physical and mental wellbeing and innovative thinking, to deal with
the seventeen points in the societal development agenda. The calm atmosphere in the library
has a way of taking the user to a world of imagination and inspires him into innovation, in
poetry, science, history and every aspect of the SDG.
Prominent among the library and information resources of invaluable value to the SD is
Institutional Repository. In the recent times many libraries have taken the initiative for the
establishment of IR system, a system that captures institutional literature, digitize same and
showcase to the world, for maximum access, impact and societal development (Meschede,
2020; Okoroma, 2019 and Beutelspacher, Purnk and Vasileva, 2018).
INSTITUTIONAL REPOSITORY A KEY RESOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Institutional repository is connected partially to the thought of a computerized library, which
deals with the capturing, processing, preservation, and distribution of electronic materials.
Institutional repository archives center around the institutional outputs delivered by