Libraries for Sustainable Development – Collaborative Action on the SDGs 

The Information Action Briefs (IABs) initiative was developed by a collaborative research team including Professor Jia Tina Du (Charles Sturt University), Professor Bharat Mehra (University of Alabama), Professor Clara M. Chu (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), and Professor Kendra S. Albright (Kent State University). Their goal was to support library and information science (LIS) professionals in translating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into practical, information-driven actions.

Using the Collective Impact Framework, the team designed IABs as four-page tools combining policy guidance, strategic actions, and visual communication. These briefs help LIS professionals identify issues, propose solutions, and take action aligned with specific SDGs.

The IABs are disseminated through the Libraries for Sustainable Development (LSD) initiative, hosted by the Mortenson Center for International Library Programs. This NGO-led platform promotes global collaboration and provides open access to resources supporting sustainable development.

Impact

The IABs have enhanced collaboration between LIS professionals, educators, policymakers, and NGOs. They are used to:

• Build strategic partnerships.
• Integrate SDGs into LIS education.
• Inform policy and advocacy.
• Support community engagement, including work with migrants and Indigenous groups.

This initiative demonstrates how cross-sector collaboration can position libraries as active contributors to inclusive and sustainable development.