Due to an event, the State Hall will be closed from 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.
Due to an event, the State Hall will be closed from 3 p.m. on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The Austrian National Library preserves a unique cultural heritage spanning many centuries, whilst also serving as a forward-looking centre for information, education and research. This role as a bridge between the rich heritage of the past and the demands of today’s information society requires us to act responsibly and with a view to the future.
We are committed to sustainability and responsibility, and aim to preserve the environment in which we live so that it remains a place worth living in for both ourselves and future generations. Our mandate to permanently preserve our shared heritage of knowledge and culture and to make it accessible is something we take very seriously, thereby laying an important foundation for shaping the future. We act consistently in an environmentally sustainable manner, thus contributing to a responsible society.
As a creator of value and a source of inspiration, the Austrian National Library also strives to set an example in the field of sustainability. This vision is reflected in our sustainability strategy and in numerous measures aimed at protecting the environment and at operating in a sustainable manner. Sustainability is not merely a guiding principle, but an integral part of our daily activities.
We regard sustainability as one of the four fundamental principles that underpin all areas of our organisation. We support the objectives of the Paris Agreement and aim to contribute to a responsible society. In the 2023–2027 strategy period, a deliberate focus is being placed on environmental sustainability in the light of climate change. The aim is to minimise our environmental footprint and actively take a major step towards climate neutrality.
A major step towards climate neutrality is the production of our annual greenhouse gas inventory with the aim of significantly reducing emissions compared to the 2019 baseline.
We use material resources sparingly by pursuing the following objectives:
We ensure that any necessary business travel is as sustainable as possible and encourage environmentally friendly journeys to and from work for staff, visitors and users, including through the following measures:
The Austrian National Library has been awarded the ‘Green Events’ Ecolabel and organises at least 50 per cent of its own events as Green Events. As a certified ‘Green Location’, we also strive to ensure that external events held at the Austrian National Library are organised as Green Events.
We practise sustainability in our day-to-day work and actively promote sustainability awareness amongst staff and visitors.
The Austrian National Library holds the Austrian Ecolabel for museums and conference and event venues, as well as the Ecolabel for Green Meetings and Events. Recertification was successfully completed in 2025 and is now valid until 2029. The Ecolabel is subject to strict requirements and is only awarded to businesses and institutions that guarantee a high level of environmental and social compatibility.
We take our responsibility towards the environment seriously and have already successfully implemented numerous measures as part of the 2021–2025 Action Plan. These include incorporating the sustainability agenda into the 2023–2027 corporate strategy, establishing a sustainability steering group, introducing annual greenhouse gas accounting, and installing photovoltaic systems.
For the next four years, the objectives we have set ourselves include the following:
More than half of the Austrian National Library’s events are already planned and implemented as ‘Green Events’ in accordance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel. This includes encouraging environmentally friendly travel, the economical use of materials, waste prevention, local organic catering, and the avoidance of printed materials or – where these are necessary – their production on recycled paper. By 2027, around 70 per cent of the Library’s own events are set to meet these criteria.
The Library’s prestigious event venues are also certified as Green Locations and can therefore be used by external organisers that comply with the specific requirements for Green Events
Contact:
Telefon: +43 1 534 10-260 or -262
E-mail: vermietungen[at]onb.ac.at
Sustainable mobility for staff is a major priority for the Austrian National Library. The free annual ÖNB staff Bike Check Days have therefore become something of a tradition – high demand even led to a third Bike Check Day being offered in 2026. A total of 74 bicycles were professionally inspected by the Enzovelo bicycle workshop and properly adjusted to ensure a safe and well-maintained 2026 cycling season.
Sustainability affects us all.
And together we can make a bigger difference.
The first ÖNB Sustainability Day on April 22, 2026, organised by and for staff, was an excellent opportunity to highlight the sustainability measures already in place, the issues we are addressing, and to discuss where there is still room for improvement.
20 interactive stations enabled staff to discover new perspectives and gain inspiration on how to make their day-to-day work and the organisation even more sustainable. These included, amongst other things, a ‘climate scale’, a furniture flea market, a repair café, a book exchange, a worm compost bin, and topics such as Digital Clean Up, healthier eating at the office, waste sorting for advanced learners, and AI & sustainability.
The first ÖNB Sustainability Day impressively demonstrated just how much commitment, creativity and interest in sustainability there is at the Austrian National Library – and that this topic is not only important, but can also be experienced collectively and be a source of motivation.
Sustainability concerns us all, and we warmly invite you to play an active part. Together, we can achieve the goals we have set and shape a sustainable future. Your contribution counts!
How can you support our sustainability goals?
