A biblioteca pública do estado do Rio Grande do Sul como agente de transformação na promoção dos objetivos de desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the Public Library of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (BPE) as a transformative agent in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN 2030 Agenda. The study contextualizes the library not merely as a repository of books, but as a dynamic space for information mediation and social resistance in the face of contemporary challenges, such as health crises, environmental catastrophes in Rio Grande do Sul, and the proliferation of disinformation. The research was guided by the following question: How do the products, services, and initiatives implemented by the BPE align with the SDGs, considering the strategies adopted, the competence of professionals, and the implications of cultural and information policies for equity and sustainability in its local context? The general objective of the study was to investigate the products, services, and initiatives implemented by the BPE, as well as their alignment with the SDGs, considering the strategies adopted, the level of competence and understanding of the professionals working within the informational space, and the implications of cultural and information policies in favor of equity and sustainability across different social levels and segments. Based on the problem statement—How do the products, services, and initiatives implemented by the BPE align with the SDGs, considering the strategies adopted, the competence of professionals, and the implications of cultural and information policies for equity and sustainability in its local context?—the research adopts a qualitative and descriptive approach, using bibliographic and documentary research, semi-structured interviews with managers, and questionnaires administered to the technical staff as procedures. For the analysis of cultural actions, data were collected from the institution’s social media platforms between 2015 and 2025, identifying how these initiatives relate to the global goals. The data were analyzed using Bardin’s content analysis. The findings reveal that the BPE carries out a wide range of activities which, although not always formally planned under the framework of the 2030 Agenda, align organically with the SDGs. A total of 91 actions were mapped, distributed across categories such as literature, music, exhibitions, and special initiatives. There was a clear predominance of actions linked to SDG 4 (Quality Education — 43.12%) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities — 27.52%). Projects such as “BPE+Cultura,” carried out in the physical surroundings of the library, and “Chapéu Acústico” demonstrate the institution’s ability to occupy urban space and promote social inclusion and democratic access to culture. The study also identified the importance of partnerships (SDG 17), through the Association of Friends of the BPE (AABPE), which enables financial resources via incentive laws (such as the Rouanet Law) for restoration and cultural programming, helping to offset the inconsistency of public budgets. However, the questionnaire results indicate a low level of specific knowledge among professionals regarding the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the absence of structured public policies that ensure continuous investment and ongoing training. The central thesis of the study is that the BPE acts as a social transformation agent whose actions and services are organically and intrinsically aligned with the SDGs of the UN 2030 Agenda. This alignment is not the result of explicit formal planning, but emerges from the essential nature of the library as a democratic, inclusive institution committed to universal access to knowledge—values that structurally correspond to the global commitments to sustainable development.