THE GREEN LIBRARY OF THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES IN ZAGREB

Abstract

Goal. The aim of the paper is to acquaint the general public, and especially the library community, with the programs of the Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb, realized in the period from 2018 to 2021. The programs empha-size the importance of acquiring skills and knowledge on environmental issues through developing awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development. Approach. This paper will explain the theoretical and practical application of green programs in academic libraries on the example of the Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb. Furthermore, it will analyze the ways in which the programs designed to protect the environment and promote sustainable development of society can be implemented into programs of other higher education and academic libraries. Results. The paper presents different ways of educating users about the importance of sustainable development and environmental protection in the period from March 2018 to March 2021. The work of the Faculty Green library is also recognized in the international professional community: the Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Zagreb is the first Croatian library marked on IFLA’s page SDG Stories Map – IFLA Map of the World. Practical use. The Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences organizes activities aimed at protecting the environment and encouraging the sustainable development of society. The study programs of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences provide numerous opportunities to include the green topics in the form of open teaching in cooperation with the scientific, teaching, and non-teaching staff of the Faculty, as well as with the scientists from other institutions and faculties, and with other institutions and associations dealing with related topics. Social significance. The goal of all these activities is to increase awareness about sustainable development and society. Encouraging and raising awareness of issues related to green topics affect the personal development of program participants by raising awareness of the necessity to protect the environment. Close cooperation between li-brarians, professors, students and external associates enables faster and better imple-mentation of this knowledge in everyday life. The activities of the Green Library of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences can encourage other libraries to implement green topics in the new programs useful to the local community. Originality. The originality of the Green Library program of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, which has a social and humanistic orientation, originates from the desire to recognize the enormous potential of green topics. Green themes represent a bridge between the social and natural sciences. They are connected in a unique way in a socio-humanistic context, thus emphasizing to what extent man is connected to nature through beliefs, customs, literature, and language.