Relationship among awareness, commitment, cooperation, policies, practices and future planning for environmental sustainability in libraries: A survey of librarians of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

As concerns about environmental sustainability and climate change continue to grow, various institutions are seeking ways to minimize their carbon footprint and promote friendly environment behaviors. Libraries as vital community hubs can play a significant role in this effort. The current study explores the adoption and implementation of Environment Friendly Policies & Practices (EFP&P) in libraries located in the region of Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). This research focuses on the role that libraries in AJK can play in combating environmental issues through their operational strategies. By implementing environment friendly measures, libraries have the potential to significantly contribute to sustainability. The study highlights concrete approaches that can be applied to reduce adverse environmental impact and by encouraging libraries to become champions of green practices.

The quantitative approach was used to explore the status of awareness library professionals towards a friendly environment and library professional’s behavior at work place. Data collection was done by using a questionnaire. The Libraries of AJK were the study's target. Data was acquired from the librarian professionals of AJK. On hundred librarians affiliated with academic, public and special libraries provided the information.

The results show that the majority of professional librarians agreed that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) enunciated by UN are significant and relevant to libraries. Further, majority of the respondents knew about the SDGs and agreed that user friendly environment in the libraries can secure the future of libraries. Moreover, this study showed that majority of the libraries have written policies on how to achieve environmental goal and opined that their senior management supported them towards the implementation of environment friendly policies. Furthermore, this study highlights that majority of participants are of the view that library building design supports and promotes in achieving friendly environment in the libraries. The study also highlights that the implementation of friendly policies is an expensive option and lack of support from the senior management is another barrier to implement environment friendly practices.