The GreenFUBib working group was created as a result of the 2020–2025 Strategy for the University Library of Freie Universität Berlin. One of the core values established in the strategy is “sustainability and responsibility.” As such, University Library decisions should always take ecological, economic, and social sustainability into account.

Doing so requires close cooperation across all areas of the university and the desire to work together toward a common goal. For example, library employees are working together with members of SUSTAIN IT!, the initiative for sustainability and climate protection at Freie Universität Berlin, to share knowledge and resources for projects such as: Blooming Campus, the “Blätterlaube”, “Unigardening,” or food waste reduction.

We also share the significance of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the practical aspects of developing a “green library” with those working in libraries across the university.

The University Library actively supports the university’s goal of achieving climate neutrality, especially in light of the climate emergency that Freie Universität declared in 2019.

The GreenFUBib working group addresses the following questions: How can we make daily library operations more sustainable, and where can we integrate additional climate protection measures? Which measures are simple and easy to implement, yet effective in scope? Which ideas can ideally be applied to as many libraries as possible? Who are the important contact people at Freie Universität when it comes to implementing environmental and climate protection measures?

The working group consists of ten colleagues from different university libraries at Freie Universität. The group meets online once a month.