Reading period access: From April 30-May 12, access to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center and the Fisher Fine Arts Library will be limited to PennCard holders and other Penn affiliates. See our Service Alerts for more information.

Books on the move: Materials on the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center are being temporarily moved to our off-site storage facility. For your safety, please avoid browsing the fifth-floor stacks. See our Service Alerts for information about requesting books during the transition. 

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Penn Libraries Book Prize in Sustainability

This annual award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the global discourse on environmental sustainability, with a specific focus on books that have a substantial impact on the public's understanding of these crucial issues.

Past Winners
An open book rests on a moss-covered surface with a blurred green forest background,
Waterfall surrounded by rocks and ferns

About the Prize

The Penn Libraries Book Prize in Sustainability is more than an award; it is a call to action, encouraging authors and thinkers to contribute to the vital discourse on sustaining our planet for future generations.

Printed pattern of black squirrels, green leaves, and other repeating designs in red and green

How to Apply

The window to submit entries for the 2026 Penn Libraries Books Prize in Sustainability has closed. We look forward to sharing news of the books shortlisted for the 2026 prize soon.

Bright white flowers on a tree with a building in the background.

Jurors

Meet the jurors for the 2026 Penn Libraries Book Prize in Sustainability.

Book cover titled "Total Garbage: How We Can Fix Our Waste and Heal Our World" by Edward Humes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. The cover features a close-up texture of multicolored, fragmented materials resembling garbage, juxtaposed against a foamy ocean wave.

Winners

Learn about the winners of the Penn Libraries Book Prize in Sustainability.

Maps and More

Campus Libraries Map

Staff Information

Resources for Staff Committees