An excellent article by Rachel D’Arcy, co-convenor of PLV’s Sustainability Special Interest Group and Library Team Leader and Portfolio Lead at Brimbank Libraries, has appeared in The Westsider.
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.