A delegation from the American Library Association (ALA) is at the United Nations (UN) this week to advocate for libraries as essential partners in advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The delegation’s participation in the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will culminate tomorrow, July 15, at the public program “Libraries as Catalysts: Driving Equitable and Innovative Action for the SDGs,” presented at the New York Public Library Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL). The event is organized by the ALA International Relations Committee United Nations SDGs Subcommittee in partnership with SNFL.
The 2026 HLPF is centered on the theme, “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for a sustainable future for all.” During the forum, ALA delegates will engage with UN stakeholders, civil society organizations, international leaders, and partner institutions to promote the role of libraries in supporting equitable access to information, digital inclusion, education, innovation, and sustainable development worldwide.
The ALA delegation includes:
- Dr. Maria McCauley, ALA president and director of the Cambridge (Mass.) Public Library,
- Loida Garcia-Febo, ALA past president and chair of the ALA International Relations Committee United Nations SDGs Subcommittee
- Dr. Anthony Chow, director of the San José State University iSchool and past president of the California Library Association and the Chinese American Librarians Association
- Robin Kear, past president of the Faculty Senate at the University of Pittsburgh
- Dr. Corinthia Price, member of the ALA Executive Board and president of the International Association of School Librarianship
- Zena George, Assistant Director NYPL/Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library
The July 15 program at SNFL will explore how libraries contribute to resilient communities, informed decision-making, sustainability, innovation, and global collaboration. It is open to librarians, educators, students, civil society organizations, policymakers, and members of the public interested in the role of libraries in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“Libraries are trusted community institutions that help advance equity, access to information, lifelong learning, and civic participation,” said McCauley. “ALA’s participation in the High-level Political Forum demonstrates the important role libraries play in building sustainable and resilient communities around the world.”
More information about the 2026 United Nations High-level Political Forum is available at https://hlpf.un.org/2026.
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Photo: Secretariat Building at United Nations Headquarters, courtesy of the United Nations CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
