SCONUL publishes its Agents for change: Libraries and the UN Sustainable Development Goals report

University libraries play an important role in supporting the success of their institutions directly through their contribution to teaching, learning and research missions, but also through a range of activities which bring wider societal benefit. One way in which this has been measured in recent years is through contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since 2019, The Times Higher Education impact rankings have assessed worldwide universities against each of the 17 SDGs, with 25 UK universities appearing in the top 100 rankings in 2024. Libraries are key contributors to this success, providing leadership, advocacy and encouraging collaboration to enhance institutional reputation and deliver societal impact.

This report showcases the role of academic libraries across the UK and Ireland in advancing institutional missions aligned with the UN SDGs. The collection of 21 case studies offers powerful and inspiring examples of libraries as partners for sustainable and equitable development.

We would like to thank everyone who shared their experiences and insights to this report, and we hope these stories inspire and empower to create a further catalyst for change.

You can find the report here