Jan Holmquist

Libraries worldwide share the common goal to empower people and communities through knowledge, learning and cultural inspiration.

Global problems require global solutions. During the ongoing pandemic, scientists have been working together towards a vaccine on a worldwide level. As with the pandemic, the climate and biodiversity crisis is not a problem that respects national borders.
For us to be able to reach the UN’s global goals in 2030, we all need to work together. All people, all communities, all librarians, all companies, all regions, all nations.

In this Ignite talk made for #nextlibrary I make a case for global cooperation between libraries. I also suggest what skills and infrastructure librarians need to work together globally to actively support our communities in meeting the 2030 goals.

The aquarium

In the interactive session “SDGs are global – Libraries deal with them globally”, I hosted a dialogue process calling on the wisdom of the room to further discuss:
“How can libraries work together globally to actively support our communities in meeting the 2030 goals?”

You can access the Trello board we created here.
If you want to add to it – email me at janholmquist at gmail.com or DM me at Twitter: @janholmquist

UPDATE:
On 10th June 2021 The Danish Government published their new action plan for how to live up to the SDGs. Libraries have a huge part to play. This is a significant game changer in Denmark. I am beyond excited about this. I will keep you updated.

Here is in my translation what it says about libraries.

The Government will strengthen the libraries’ work with and dissemination of the World Goals to make the libraries a facilitator for the popular anchoring of the UN World Goals. The initiative involves i.a. events on the World Goals in libraries, a World Goals certification program for libraries and skills development for librarians regarding the dissemination of the World Goals