IRC UN Sustainable Development Goals Subcommittee
Charge
ALA's IRC United Nations Subcommittee will collaborate with ALA divisions, round tables, committees and membership, and US library associations in the implementation of the multi-year strategic plan developed by the ALA UN 2030 SDG Task Force to increase participation by libraries in efforts to achieve the Goals.
Roster
Displaying active committee roster as of 03/28/2025. Last retrieved on 03/28/2025. Refresh now.
Resources
Recent online events:
- UN General Assembly 2024: ALA active at the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (article includes link to the recording of the event) - Recording available
recording:
- Generative A.I. supercharging the mission of libraries: risks and opportunities - event presented during the days before AI for Good Global Summit presented by the UN International Intercommunication Union - Recording available
- UN General Assembly 2023: Library Services to Indigenous Populations Worldwide: Rebuilding Trust and Reigniting Global Solidarity - Recording available
- UN High Level Political Forum 2023: Libraries and women empowerment at the intersection of development - Recording available
- Libraries and women empowerment at the intersection of development - Recording available
- Indigenous Agency and Abundance: Impacts of Indigenous librarians and libraries on Indigenous communities, health, and inclusion and the 12th International Indigenous Librarians' Forum - Recording available
ALA IRC United Nations Subcommittee
Charge: ALA's IRC United Nations Subcommittee will collaborate with ALA divisions, round tables, committees and membership, and US library associations in the implementation of the multi-year strategic plan developed by the ALA UN 2030 SDG Task Force to increase participation by libraries in efforts to achieve the Goals. (This should cover all present and future advocacy/collaboration related to the UN. Hence.)
First order of business will be to help ALA staff answering questions on the application to secure Consultative Status to the Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) which is the highest status granted by the United Nations to non-governmental organizations (NGO's), thereby allowing ALA to participate in the work of the United Nations.
- View complete document (PDF file)
The ALA Special Task Force on Sustainability was formed in 2017 by the ALA Executive Board in response to the ALA Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries and the need to spark the development of actionable initiatives to further this work. First meeting was held in October 2017 and began work thereafter. A draft report was presented to the ALA Executive Board in 2018, highlighting the adoption of the formwork of sustainability to guide the work of the task force.
TIMELINE:
Policy on Environmental Issues (1999)
Creation of the Sustainability Round Table (2013)
Resolution on the Importance of Sustainable Libraries (2015)
Resolution on Global Climate Change and a Call for Support for Libraries and Librarians (2017)
Special Task Force on Sustainability (chartered 2017)
Final Report of the Task Force (2018)
Resolution for the Adoption of Sustainability as a Core Value of LIbrarianship (2019)
Task Force on the Unted Nation 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (2020)
ALA President Patty Wong Focused on sustainability (1 of 4 presidential pillars-2021-2022)
ALA Council Committee on Sustainability (formed 2011)
Resolution to Achieve Carbon Neutrality for ALA Conferences (2011)
ALA Partnership with the Sustainable Libraries Initiative (2023)
Michael Dowling, Director, International Relations Office, inside U.S inside U.S. (800) 545-2433, ext. 3200, outside U.S. 312-280-3200, mdowling@ala.org
The ALA International Relations Committee encourages all ALA members to serve on a committee. If you are interested in volunteering, please go to the Committee Volunteer Form (you will need your ALA login). For membership questions or having problems login in, please call the ALA Customer Service Office 1-800-545-2433, ext. 5) for more information.
