Libraries and sustainable development

The notion of economic growth became increasingly prominent from the late 18th century, but has now run up against the limits of a world with finite material resources. The concept of sustainable development, which first emerged in 1987, tries to reconcile economic, social, and environmental objectives. In France, libraries grew rapidly from the 1970s. They must now start thinking about sustainable development by finding ways to limit their environmental impact, particularly in terms of architecture, transport, purchases, and waste disposal.
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