Attitudes of LIS Students towards the SDGs

Abstract

Our poster presents the outcomes of a pilot study conducted at the beginning of 2023, focusing on the awareness and attitudes of LIS students at Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic. The primary objective was to assess students' familiarity with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they incorporate these goals into their studies, library internships, and personal lives. Among the participating students, only 64 % were aware of the existence and content of the SDGs. The identified SDGs that students believed Czech libraries should prioritize included Quality education, Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, and Good health and well-being. The poster also highlights students' responses to a significant query: why libraries should actively participate in promoting SDG awareness and implementing the goals. These responses shed light on the vital role libraries can play in fostering sustainable development and how they can contribute to the realization of these objectives. Our pilot research underscores the importance of raising awareness about the SDGs among LIS students. The study highlights the significance of incorporating sustainability and the SDGs into the educational framework to foster a generation of information professionals who are actively engaged in promoting global sustainable development.