SDG Stories on the Library Map of the World highlight how libraries contribute to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. These stories are submitted by libraries and library organisations around the world and curated by the Library Map of the World team. Together, they show the real-life impact libraries have on education, inclusion, health, employment, innovation, culture, community well-being and more.
What are SDG Stories?
SDG Stories are short, evidence-based accounts that describe a library activity, service, project, or programme and demonstrates impact on people and communities. They show how library work connects to one or more of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and why it matters to local, regional, or national development priorities.
They highlight:
- The community need or challenge the library addressed;
- What the library did and what partners were involved;
- The results and evidence of change;
- How the activity contributes to achieving specific SDGs.
Each story is accompanied by photos or videos, links to further information, and clear SDG tags, helping users understand the connection between library action and global development goals.
What can you find in an SDG Story?
Every SDG Story includes:
- A compelling narrative: A concise description of the challenge, the library’s action, and the impact.
- Evidence of change: quantitative or qualitative data, testimonials, or examples showing how the activity made a difference.
- Relevant SDGs: a list of the Sustainable Development Goals with which the story aligns.
- Visuals: photos and videos that bring the story to life.
- Further information: links to related websites, news, or resources.
All texts and images included in SDG stories are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence to support sharing and reuse.
What can you use these stories for?
SDG Stories help demonstrate the essential role libraries play in supporting sustainable development. You can use them to:
- Advocate: Strengthen messages to policymakers, funders, and community leaders by showing credible, human-centred examples of library impact.
- Inspire and learn: Discover successful programmes and services that other libraries have implemented and adapt ideas for your own context.
- Build partnerships: Highlight opportunities to collaborate with organisations working to address relevant community needs or development priorities.
- Communicate value: Share stories with public, stakeholders, and media to increase understanding of how libraries change lives.
- Support planning: Use real examples to inform strategic planning, community needs assessment, and programme development.
Engage with us
If your library or organisation would like to contribute an SDG Story, or collaborate with an existing contributor in your country, please contact us at [email protected].