SUSTAINABILI-DIT

Words by Olivia Veronese

When was the last time that you visited a public library? What was it for? Did it surprise you?

You may have quickly stepped in to pick up a book for class, or been dragged in by a friend or family member.

You may also be wondering what all these questions about your personal use of public libraries have to do with sustainability - we’ll get to that. First, I’d love to tell you a story of my own.

I’ve always been one of those nerdy kids who loved reading. So, I suppose it was only natural that my mother, who is also a bookworm, would take me to children’s storytime and let me have free reign of the entire children’s section. As a nerdy child, this place of seemingly endless picture books, cushions, and brightly-coloured mushroom stools was a dream come true. Although the time between my visits stretched out as I grew older, the level of wonder did not.

But public libraries offer more than children’s events and a small piece of respite for parents. At 15, they also offered me my first (and best) job. Working in any area, you learn things that a casual patron or customer may never have picked up.

For me, this was the range of people who make use of the public library spaces, for a range of its services. Although I expected my days to be quiet, stepping around older people and dodging the odd child, I found the opposite to be true. Around 4pm, professionals and older community members who made the most of the peace and quiet would give way to parents with school-aged children, students and tutors, and off-the-clock adults looking for their latest read or watch.

I found that the biggest use of public libraries was not the books, but the free, safe, and sheltered environment that they provide. For students, a place to study with free wifi, computer access, and onhand librarians; for professionals, a place to work with access to private meeting rooms; for families, a place to learn, play, and socialise. Throw in over 3 million books, graphic novels, magazines, DVDs, CDs, Kindles, children’s toys, board games, puzzles, and even some console games on top of this, and you have a place of intense community value.

We’re lucky to have an excellent private library on-campus with a jaw-dropping catalogue of resources, helpful librarians, and safe study spaces. There’s no denying that private libraries offer a wealth of information and services. However, public library services will remain available to you after you graduate, and offer significant opportunities for engagement and support within your local community.

Public libraries are not-for-profit, allowing them to channel their funds differently and conform to different metrics than profitdriven enterprises. This allows them to place more value on providing community

events such as book clubs, technical help, community education sessions, expanding their collections to include the latest viral book-tok read, and spending time with their stakeholders - us.

The sustainability that libraries provide does not always conform to the green, tree-planting environmental sustainability that we are often used to. Instead, public libraries strive towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal of providing accessible sources of knowledge and information, in addition to supporting local communities through the provision of social infrastructure that I have preached so strongly throughout this piece.

If you’re desperately after environmental sustainability, South Australian public libraries contain battery-recycling deposits and outdoor green spaces, and some offer free seeds to add to your garden.

All of this from an institution that we commonly downgrade to being a place to grab a quick read. There is an inherent social and environmental sustainability in choosing to borrow a book rather than purchase it on the first read.

I know there are some serial book collectors out there, and if that’s you, don’t panic: I’m not asking you to do away with traipsing bookstores. But, when you’re not sure if you’ll love a book, or if the hardcover is just too expensive, do consider sourcing it from your local library before deciding whether it’s worth purchasing to add to your collection.

While I’m here, I’ll bust a commonly-held library myth: you ARE allowed to eat and drink in libraries, as long as you don’t leave a mess. I’ve watched a patron crack open a can of tuna whilst reading, and whilst I don’t suggest this particular snack if you have any respect for people nearby, there was enough airflow to leave him be.

If being able to bring a flask of tea and snacks into the library doesn’t appeal to you, you can borrow ebooks and films on your device, or place physical items on hold from any of the 130 public libraries in South Australia where they’ll be taken to your closest branch for a speedy pickup.

And so, I leave you with one last piece of little-known wisdom: South Australian public library checkout machines have a “pirate” language setting that you can access by tapping the skull and crossbones flag in the language options menu. It’s very entertaining, and I almost always check out my books this way.

Access more information about the SA public library network:

https://onecard.network/client/en_AU/ sapubliclibraries