This short paper is the response by EIFL and IFLA (the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) to a call by the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) for stories and examples that showcase how public internet access contributes to achieving the the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The response includes examples of how public library internet access in different countries (Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kenya, Lithuania, Myanmar, Romania and South Africa) is helping to achieve SDG 7 – Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all; SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.  The response also highlights the partnership between the International Labour Organization and Cornell University Libraries and Yale Law School. The partnership has led to creation of a programme that gives online access to legal information and research with a specific focus on labour law (contributing to SDG 8).

The response forms part of the fourth phase of the IGF intersessional work, a community-driven process started in 2015 that focused on the Policy Options for Connecting and Enabling the Next Billion(s). See the output documents for all four phases.