Abstract:

Public libraries go beyond the wall and act as a catalysts of change in their local communities in all aspects of human life. One of their most important role in the modern age is to raise awareness and understanding of three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. Since sustainability has been a global challenge it comes as no surprise that libraries contribute to the well-being of local communities. This paper showcases the Jagodina Library's contribution to achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) through different projects and initiatives. The library hosts workshops for children with the aim to educate, inspire and empower them to become more environmentally literate and protect the environment for a greener future. Since acting together is important for the sake of creating sustainable communities, the library took efforts and engaged in a public-private partnerships resulting in providing free online courses on various subjects to its adult members. These free educational resources help them develop personal skills and cognitive abilities which are crucial for lifelong learning. Four rural libraries were refurbished offering the rural population an information hub where they improved their digital skills, learnt about improved agricultural methods, and how to sell their produce online in order to increase their income. Other projects by the library also contributed to SDGs because the community members had the opportunity to enhance their digital skills which were necessary for the digital age we live in.

Keywords:

Public library, SDGs, non-formal education, sustainability, private-public partnership.