Sustainable Environmental Awareness Through Community Service Activities: Rangsit University Library (IFLA Green Library Winner Award 2020) Case Study

Abstract

Rangsit University Library, the Winner of IFLA Green Library Award 2020 has started its friendly environmental activities since 2005 continuously including being assessed according to the green library standards of the Library Association of Thailand in 2017. Subsequently, activities were developed to become a green office according to the standards of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand. Emphasizing the importance of good environmental management, the Library has been awarded the symbol G-Green (gold level - excellent) at the national level in 2019. The following year, the Library has been awarded the Winner of the 2020 IFLA Green Library Award. Rangsit University Library therefore has a body of knowledge in environmental management and has brought knowledge to the community by organizing various activities that provide knowledge and concepts to be able to implement for the benefit of the people in the community. The activities are conducted both internally and externally. For internal activities, it is an activity organized for groups of users within the university to participate, including faculty members, staff, and students. For external activities, there are activities organized for teachers, students in elementary schools around neighborhood such as Wat Rangsit School, Wat Kai Tia School and also government organizations such as the Juvenile Observation Center, Pathum Thani Province Government. Besides, the workshop for environment literacy, the activities are includes the DIY from trash recycling and upcycling, environmental friendly multipurpose liquid making, etc. Those activities will help these communities realize the value of environmentally friendly and create value for oneself and society for sustainable development and the importance of the environment. Rangsit University Library, not only academic and research supports but also provides services to the community. With various group of lecturers, students, and staff in the university and group of schools and organizations in neighborhood community, the library has collaborated and created partnerships in order to sharing the knowledge, experiences in environment conservation and management and fostering to achieve sustainable development in accordance with the goals of the UN SDGs. Rangsit University Library commits to serve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Since 2018, the library has organized and implemented many services and activities that supported the UN SDGs framework. In 2020, the Library served 9 UN SDGs and at present (2023), the 12 UN SDGs. Regarding the community services and activities in raising the sustainable environment awareness, the Library has supported at least 10 UN SDGs such as goal 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14. These could emphasize that the Library realizes the important role of building a sustainable future for its society and community and the importance of creating partnership to achieve the global goals.