Library funding requests that cite general need, more books, more staff, more hours, compete directly against requests from hospitals, roads, and other public priorities. A separate, more specific framework exists that connects library work directly to a commitment governments have already formally made.
What the framework actually says
The UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) covering poverty, education, health, gender equality, and more.1 Access to information appears directly in that framework. SDG Target 16.10 reads: "Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements."2 Public access to information, provided by libraries, falls within this target's stated scope.
A documented example
IFLA's International Advocacy Programme supported a project led by the Arab Federation for Libraries and Information (AFLI), "The 2030 Arab Librarians," to develop and deliver training on libraries and the SDGs across the Arabic-speaking world.3 The project included expert webinars and a workshop held in Egypt on 28-29 July, with 11 participants working on storytelling, impact assessment, and SDG-aligned action plans for their own libraries.3
Building a case
A case connecting library work to a specific SDG target typically includes four elements: the specific goal, the concrete service that supports it, the specific gap funding would close, and a defined ask. For example: "$1,200 for 10 tablets to expand a homework support program that served 340 students last term" states a specific goal and outcome. A general request to "support the library" does not.