University Libraries in Assam: Driving Progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education)

Abstract

In order to create a sustainable future for all people, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015. These goals are to protect the environment, ensure excellent health and quality education, end hunger, poverty, and injustice, and advance economic growth. Libraries are hubs for knowledge dissemination and information, making them inclusive places for people of various racial, social, and cultural backgrounds. By facilitating information access and literacy, fostering a learning environment that encourages high-quality education, and offering resources and information, libraries can help accomplish sustainable development target 4. The purpose of this work is to investigate how university libraries of Assam contribute to the attainment of sustainable development goal 4 i.e. Quality education. A structured questionnaire was designed and distributed among 22 University libraries of Assam and out of that 20 libraries were returned the questionnaire. Results of the study revealed that all these 20 libraries are aware about SDG 4 and 75% of libraries have taken initiatives as a part of quality education. The findings support the fact that university libraries of Assam contribute significantly to support quality education by providing access to relevant information, engaging in educational conferences and events, promoting lifelong learning among students, information literacy etc. The study also discussed the problem faced by university libraries to promote quality education.