THE Environment, Sustainability, and Libraries Section (ENSULIB) of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) announced the shortlist for the 10th IFLA Green Library Award last week. The Yantian District Library secured a spot among the finalists.

Founded in 1927, IFLA is the world’s leading international organization for the library sector. ENSULIB, a section within IFLA, focuses on promoting sustainability in libraries.

Established in 2015, the IFLA Green Library Award recognizes outstanding contributions to environmental sustainability. The award is divided into two categories: Best Green Library/Large-Scale Project and Best Green Library Project.

This year, ENSULIB received 41 submissions from 22 countries, with 19 entries making the long list. Yantian District Library’s initiative, “The Growth Library: Reading Without Borders, Growth With Sustainability,” was shortlisted in the Best Green Library/Large-Scale Project category.

In 2024, the Yantian District Library, in collaboration with the Vanke Foundation, launched the Growth Library project based on the concept that “a library is an organic entity that evolves.”

By integrating diverse social resources, the initiative promotes the idea that “everything can be read,” transforming the library into a borderless green space and a driving force for community sustainability. It serves 20,000 residents across a 21-square-kilometer area and attracts over 20 million visitors annually.

The Growth Library boasts an 85% green electricity usage rate, a 60% energy-saving rate, and a 50% water-saving rate while supporting paperless reading.

The initiative has also developed various Green Reading Spots and low-carbon tour routes, incorporating facilities such as an on-site black soldier fly kitchen waste resource station and China’s first Four-Zero (zero carbon, zero energy consumption, zero waste, and zero water consumption) McDonald’s.

The final nominations for the 2025 IFLA Green Library Award will be announced in May, and the winners in both categories will be revealed in August.