Abstracts
Abstract
Objective – This research investigates how a rural community library contributes to sustainability education by generating practice-based evidence promoting environmental literacy that is participatory, culturally grounded, and responsive to local contexts. The study focuses on Perpustakaan Alam Malabar in Mekarsari Village, West Java, Indonesia and examines how the library integrates ecopedagogical strategies to foster ecological awareness within the community.
Methods – A qualitative single-case study design was applied. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis and were analyzed using the interactive model developed by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The researchers took part in several community-based programs hosted by the library, such as mobile literacy sessions (melapak), environmental discussions, film screenings, gardening activities, and the annual Rawat Bumi Festival. Data reliability was strengthened through triangulation and member checking.
Results – The findings indicate that Perpustakaan Alam Malabar has successfully redefined the library as a participatory learning hub that supports environmental literacy in everyday life. The library’s approach blends scientific insights with local wisdom and community-based action, creating an educational environment that stimulates cognitive, emotional, and behavioural engagement. Nonetheless, the model faces several constraints, including reduced local participation, a lack of institutional policy support, and the growing influence of external stakeholders. To navigate these challenges, the library has implemented adaptive strategies, including training local facilitators, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and promoting culturally responsive communication.
Conclusion – The study demonstrates that community libraries—especially in rural settings—can serve as effective platforms for sustainability education. The Perpustakaan Alam Malabar model offers a replicable, evidence informed model that practitioners can adapt to align literacy initiatives with ecological values and local engagement. In addition to its empirical contributions, the study advances a conceptual perspective on libraries as inclusive, transformative, and community-driven spaces for ecological learning and advocacy.
Appendices
Bibliography
- Alwi, M., Kudsiah, M., Hakim, A. R., Burhanuddin, B., & Maritasari, D. B. (2022). Penguatan literasi lingkungan melalui kegiatan Hidroponik untuk membangun Green School di SDU Hamzanwadi. ABSYARA: Jurnal Pengabdian Pada Masyarakat, 3(2), 243–254. https://doi.org/10.29408/ab.v3i2.5945
- Antonelli, M. (2008). The Green Library Movement: An overview and beyond. Electronic Green Journal, 1(27). https://doi.org/10.5070/G312710757
- Bissinger, K., & Bogner, F. X. (2018). Environmental literacy in practice: Education on tropical rainforests and climate change. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 20(5), 2079–2094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-017-9978-9
- Corrado, E. M. (2024). Environmental sustainability and libraries. Technical Services Quarterly, 41(3), 265–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/07317131.2024.2357015
- Das, R. K., & Singha, A. (2023). Greening knowledge: Exploring the intersection of environmental sustainability and academic libraries in the 21st century. International Journal of Science and Research, 12(12), 1603–1607. https://doi.org/10.21275/SR231220210107
- Devine, J., & Appleton, L. (2023). Environmental education in public libraries. Library Management, 44(1–2), 152–165. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-10-2022-0091
- Dissanayake, D. M. S. B. (2024). Connecting the dots; Environmental literacy index in measuring knowledge for environmental conservation. Proceedings of the 27th International Forestry and Environment Symposium, 27, 155. https://doi.org/10.31357/fesympo.v27.7189
- Fang, W.-T., Hassan, A., & LePage, B. A. (2023). The living environmental education: Sound science toward a cleaner, safer, and healthier future. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-4234-1
- Fedorowicz-Kruszewska, M. (2022). Green library as a subject of research – a quantitative and qualitative perspective. Journal of Documentation, 78(4), 912–932. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-08-2021-0156
- Given, L. M. (2007). Evidence-based practice and qualitative research: A primer for library and information professionals. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 2(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.18438/B8QC7Q
- Ikhsan, F. A., Kurnianto, F. A., Apriyanto, B., & Nurdin, E. A., & Bachtiar, R. W. (2019). The effectivity of environmental education in scaffolding students’ ecological literacy. Jurnal Pendidikan IPA Indonesia, 8(3), 398–406. https://doi.org/10.15294/jpii.v8i3.14522
- Islam, M. A., Sultana, R., & Widén, G. (2024). Ascertaining the place of UN Sustainable Development Goals in public libraries: How much progress have public libraries made in Bangladesh? Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 73(3), 354–374. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-03-2022-0072
- Jackson, L. (2022). Libraries and sustainability: Programs and practices for community impact. René Tanner, Adrian K. Ho, Monika Antonelli, and Rebekkah Smith Aldrich, eds. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions, 2021. 176p. Paper, $49.99 (ISBN: 9780838937945). College & Research Libraries, 83(5), 860–862. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.5.860
- Jančius, R., & Gavenauskas, A. (2022). The influence of values and social environment on parents’ environmental attitudes: Lithuanian case study. Sustainability, 14(20), 13415. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142013415
- Khalid, A., & Batool, S. H. (2020). A qualitative case study of green environment: Practices, attitudes and future strategies of Pakistani university librarians. Electronic Green Journal, 1(44). https://doi.org/10.5070/G314443701
- Koufogiannakis, D. (2011). Considering the place of practice-based evidence within Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP). Library and Information Research, 35(111), 41–58. https://doi.org/10.29173/lirg486
- Koufogiannakis, D. (2012). Academic librarians’ conception and use of evidence sources in practice. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 7(4), 5–24. https://doi.org/10.18438/B8JC8J
- Lewis, S. (2016). Reflections on using patrons’ stories as practice-based evidence. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 11(1), 107–110. https://doi.org/10.18438/B87K8T
- Mathiasson, M. H., & Jochumsen, H. (2022). Libraries, sustainability and sustainable development: A review of the research literature. Journal of Documentation, 78(6), 1278–1304. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-11-2021-0226
- Meydan, C. H., & Akkaş, H. (2024). The role of triangulation in qualitative research: Converging perspectives. In A. Elhami, A. Roshan, & H. Chandan (Eds.), Principles of conducting qualitative research in multicultural settings (pp. 101–132). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3693-3306-8.ch006
- Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2020). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
- Morris, Y. (2024). The green libraries partnership and green libraries campaign. Business Information Review, 41(4), 195–199. https://doi.org/10.1177/02663821241298617
- Mwanzu, A., Bosire-Ogechi, E., & Odero, D. (2023). Green initiatives towards environmental sustainability: Insights from libraries in Kenya. IFLA Journal, 49(2), 298–314. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352221135012
- Noble, H., & Heale, R. (2019). Triangulation in research, with examples. Evidence-Based Nursing, 22(3), 67–68. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebnurs-2019-103145
- Putra, D. D. (2025). Exploring green libraries innovation toward environmental sustainability in Indonesia: A systematic literature review. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1439(1), 012023. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1439/1/012023
- Robles-Piñeros, J., & Tateo, L. (2023). Isn’t all about trash... Children’s conceptions about ecology and their implications for biology education in Colombia. Journal of Biological Education, 57(3), 692–705. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2021.1941189
- Roth, C. E. (1968). Curriculum overview for developing environmentally literate citizens (ED032982). ERIC. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED032982.pdf
- Saini, A. (2025). Climate Action Framework for Libraries: Empowering response to climate crisis. IFLA Journal, 51(2), 203–216. https://doi.org/10.1177/03400352241302503
- Tomás, M. R. V., Vicente, J. S. Y., De La Cruz, M. D. B., & Acha, D. M. H. (2022). Environmental literacy and its impact on sustainable pedagogical behaviors of basic education teachers, Lima-Peru. WSEAS Transactions on Environment and Development, 18, 856–864. https://doi.org/10.37394/232015.2022.18.80
- Yunus, N., & Ismail, M. N. (2024). Sustainable libraries: Harnessing smart library for a green future. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Environment Management, 9(35), 136–144. https://gaexcellence.com/jthem/article/view/2562