Building sustainable collections: Environmental responsibility and inclusion in collection decision-making​

Collections, both physical and digital, remain at the heart of libraries’ work with their communities but sustainability concerns are reshaping how collections are developed, maintained, and accessed. This presentation explores how libraries in Aotearoa are adopting sustainable practices with a focus on: Environmental sustainability: reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices Economic sustainability: resource sharing and supporting free, open access materials Social and cultural sustainability: ethical collection practices and the representation of diverse voices We will present findings of a research project involving librarians from different types of libraries across Aotearoa, focusing on the intersection between library collections and sustainability. Highlighting effective practices in sustainable collection management, we will discuss how libraries in Aotearoa can adopt sustainable collection strategies, challenges faces, and possible solutions.