Electronic Green Journal

Like many institutions and organizations, libraries face complications stemming from the different values of formal administration and the individuals doing the work. Sustainability and climate crisis work is one area where these conflicting priorities can come into play. Administrative leaders often have their own agenda, goals and actions; they shift to a new institution and with that, values, actions and services shift in tandem, directly affecting individuals' work and organizational culture. This article provides a brief history of sustainability work in libraries, explores the complications of conventional management, and offers alternative examples of grassroots leadership for climate action work in libraries.

This study examined the readiness of academic libraries in North-Central Nigeria to adopt 
green practices in response to climate change in support of the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs). Researchers used mixed-methods sequential explanatory design and 
collected data from library personnel in federal universities through an electronic semi
structured questionnaire. Using purposive and snowball sampling, they surveyed 556 
personnel, obtained 484 valid responses, and analyzed the data. Findings showed 
moderate awareness and institutional readiness, but limited implementation of practices 
such as e-waste management and recycling. Key barriers included inadequate funding, 
infrastructure, technology, training, and institutional policies. Participants named staff 
capacity building, clear policy frameworks, technological integration, green operational 
practices, and community engagement as key strategies for strengthening sustainability. 
These measures can support SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible 
Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The study offers evidence
based insights for advancing environmentally sustainable practices in academic libraries. 

This article maps the contemporary political landscape shaping archival practice in the United Staes (U.S.). It examines how executive interventions, funding instability, and the privatization of historical production have intensified the governance pressures facing archival institutions. It introduces the term Commercial History Production Centers (CHPCs) to describe for-hire firms that integrate archival custody, infrastructure, and narrative production within market-driven frameworks, raising critical questions about transparency, labor, and public accountability. In response, the article advances Radical Archivy as an approach to preservation that reconceptualizes sustainability as a matter of governance, labor, narrative authority, and access, rather than solely as a technical concern. Drawing on professional and international sustainability frameworks, it presents the Sustainable Governance and Ethical Stewardship Questionnaire for Engaging with Archival Environments, a public-facing tool designed to help donors, artists, community members, and institutional clients evaluate archival stewardship across sectors. By empowering those who entrust repositories with their memories and records to assess archival practices, the article contributes to an ongoing reorientation of archival culture toward accountability, care, and structural transparency.

Public and academic libraries in the United States (U.S.) are actively addressing food insecurity within tIn the winter of 2025, the authors distributed an online survey through library listservs and email. The mixed methods survey was approved by an Institutional Review Board and included single selection, multi-choice, and open-ended questions. Data was collected for approximately 30 days. The respondents were anonymous and no identifying information was collected. Respondents were qualified to complete the survey if they were over 18 years of age, worked in a library, and agreed to accept the risks associated with completing an online survey. Once the data was collected, themes were named for the qualitative data, and the textual content was categorized and quantified in a Google spreadsheet. Likewise, the quantitative data was tabulated in a Google spreadsheet. heir communities. Through a review of existing literature and original mixed-methods research involving 55 library professionals, this study identified a wide array of initiatives that include direct services like food pantries, summer meal programs, cooking classes, and after-school snacks, to indirect support services such as seed libraries, and resource navigation. The findings highlight that while these services provide vital community support, libraries face significant challenges in supporting them, particularly due to funding, staffing, and outreach. The article concludes by offering a framework of planning questions to help library teams in assessing community needs, developing sustainable partnerships, and aligning food security initiatives with their broader institutional missions.

This study explores the author’s journey as she navigates the complexities of sustainable leadership within the intersecting challenges of gender inequality, resource constraints, and political adversity in the Global South. Drawing on personal experience and theoretical frameworks, the article examines strategies for overcoming significant barriers, including technological limitations, economic sanctions, and deeply ingrained gender norms. The narrative highlights a sustainability-oriented leadership approach grounded in collective leadership, systems thinking, and innovation in the face of adversity. By integrating local knowledge, empowering marginalized groups, and building resilience in response to external pressures, the study shows how sustainable leadership can appear and flourish even in contexts characterized by limited resources and persistent systemic inequalities. Central to the discussion is the role of women and culture in shaping leadership practices and strategies, with particular attention to how women leaders from the Global South can challenge established norms and contribute to meaningful social and environmental change. The study underscores the importance of diverse and inclusive leadership in advancing a more sustainable and fair future by connecting personal experience with global sustainability agendas, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This narrative provides insights for women leaders confronting similar challenges and offers practical strategies for navigating the intersecting barriers of culture, gender, resource constraints, and geopolitics in the pursuit of sustainability.

Institutions of higher education have increasingly engaged in environmental sustainability initiatives, reflecting growing societal concern about climate change and resource conservation. This case study examines a collaborative sustainability initiative at Western Colorado University in which five campus units, including the Leslie J. Savage Library and the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC), addressed the environmental impacts of waste-intensive campus events. Confronted with logistical and infrastructural obstacles to sustainable practices, the library and TLC implemented a low-cost, high-impact solution involving a portable, energy-efficient dishwasher and reusable “zero-waste kits.” This initiative significantly reduced event-related waste improved operational efficiency, and increased sustainability awareness across campus. The project aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and shows how modest infrastructural changes, supported by cross-departmental collaboration, can foster a culture of sustainability in higher education. The pilot project and partnership provide a replicable framework for other institutions looking to integrate environmental stewardship into everyday operations.