By Rachel D’Arcy
When many think of a library they might imagine rows of books, quiet study spaces, a storytime session and someone reading the newspaper. But in 2025, it has never been clearer they are so much more.
In addition to the community programs, collections and access to technology, local libraries are embracing sustainability initiatives for the community’s benefit. Many are now e-waste drop off points, some host a seed library and no cost community lunches, and many now lend out thermal imaging cameras to help you find where heat is being lost in your home.
Here in Melbourne’s west, our local libraries are quietly doing big things. They’re part of a global movement supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — a set of 17 goals aimed at creating a fairer, healthier and more sustainable world by 2030. While these goals may sound lofty or far removed, libraries across our community are putting them into action every day, helping to build a better future right here at home.
For instance; they offer free access to lifelong learning across the lifespan (tick for SDG 4: Quality Education), run social inclusion and wellbeing programs (SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing) and provide spaces where people can connect, create and belong (SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities). They even help with waste reduction, by offering repair cafés, e-waste drop-off points and seed libraries (SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production). Libraries also host programs designed to educate the community on how to make the switch to renewables and reduce energy use in the home (SDG 13: Climate Action).
So libraries are doing a whole lot more than lending books; they’re turning local social needs into practical, educational and beneficial realities to support health and wellbeing in the community.
Latest data from Public Libraries Victoria found that 32 library services (63%) now offer a Library of Things to support their community. Libraries of Things extend the core library principle of cost-efficient sharing of resources across the community to items beyond the realm of physical and digital books and information. Through a Library of Things library, members can borrow a wide range of household items (sewing machines), garden tools (lawnmowers), equipment (thermal cameras), and costly appliances so you can try before you buy, like induction cooktops. After seeing success lending these non-traditional library collections, many libraries are now expanding their Library of Things offering to include different resources. For example reading pens and adaptive audio players, iPads with internet access and wellbeing kits with activities to foster relaxation and improve overall well-being.
Libraries in the western suburbs are finding clever ways to support people and the planet.
In Hobsons Bay, the Altona Library is home to the municipalities EnviroCentre: a central location for sustainability and environmental information. It strives to provide the community with resources in the form of a selectively curated collection (books, DVDs, magazine, e-resources and equipment) as well as local environmental information.
At Brimbank Libraries, the Seed Library is growing in popularity with community members looking to grow their own produce at home. Library members can collect a packet of seeds every month to grow your own produce at home—and if you’ve got extra seeds, you can donate them back.
Maribyrnong Libraries lend out thermal imaging cameras as part of their Home Efficiency Audit Kits to help you determine if heat is being lost in winter or gained in summer, due to draughts and gaps in insulation.
To help make these kinds of sustainable services easier to find, Public Libraries Victoria created the sustainability portal—an online tool where anyone can search for local sustainable initiatives run by their local libraries.
It’s a simple way to find your nearest e-waste bin, seed library, community garden, no-cost community lunch, plant and produce swap, Library of Things, energy saver kits and community pantry. You can check it out here: plv.org.au/sustainability-home
Inspired by the many sustainability initiatives already happening in libraries, a colleague and I set out to create a framework that could guide and strengthen this work across Victoria. With support from State Library Victoria’s Barrett Reid Scholarship, we developed a set of Sustainability Quality Standards—practical tools to help libraries assess and improve their environmental and social impact. The project features real-world case studies from Victoria and abroa d, showing how libraries are leading meaningful change in their communities.
Curious? Read the full report here.
At a time when many people are feeling overwhelmed by climate change, the cost of living or disconnected from their communities, libraries offer something powerful: a free, welcoming space where people can learn, share and take action together. They are one of the few places you can walk into without needing to spend any money and walk out with new ideas, skills and a sense of hope. Libraries are a refuge in the summer offering extended hours and cooling packs during heat waves, and some host an annual coat drive in winter. From small actions like attending an Energy and Water Bill Help session at Hume Libraries, to big systems change like Melton Library being the first library in Australia to be awarded a 5 Star Green Star rating, libraries across the western suburbs are developing, refining and progressing to safeguard our future, today.
Throughout my 12 years in public libraries, it has become clear to me that libraries are not just places for borrowing stories. They carefully connect the social threads of community, and through creativity and curiosity they help us rewrite our planet’s story. I do believe libraries are places where a better future is already being written — one seed, one conversation, one loaned thermal imaging camera at a time.
Rachel D’Arcy is a Library Team Leader and Portfolio Lead at Brimbank Libraries. She convenes a Sustainability Special Interest Group under Public Libraries Victoria with colleague Jessica Anderson. In January 2024, Rachel was jointly awarded the State Library Victoria Barrett Reid Scholarship with Jessica to research evidence-based sustainability frameworks and develop resources to support public libraries in the area of social and environmental sustainability. The scholarship paved the way to the development of 6 Key Sustainability Quality Standards to guide library-led efforts in this space.
