Library Map of the World

Founded in 1923, the Library Association of Latvia, is the biggest professional public organisation in the library field in Latvia, representing interests of around 400 individual members and 50 institutional members. According to the Strategic Plan 2017-2020, the major activities of the Association are organised into four strategic directions: 1) Uniting the Community of Librarians, 2) Library Advocacy, 3) Capacity building of librarians, and 4) Improvement and development of the Association. The goals are to make sure that library services are accessible, well known and valued by society, the work of librarians is appreciated, and librarians are knowledgeable, skilled and motivated continue to develop professionally and support each other.

Founded in 1994, the Association of Latvian Academic Libraries unites the biggest academic and special libraries in Latvia. It has members from 24 institutions. The main goals of the Association are to enable development and cooperation among academic libraries in Latvia and to support exchange of information in science, education and national economy. The Association is the main voice when it comes to the library advocacy within the Ministry of Education and Science and its working groups. It also deals with knowledge and experience exchange among its members and organises capacity building events for academic and special librarians.

Founded in 1996, the Association of Latvian School Librarians unites Latvian school librarians, and those involved in school libraries and in other educational areas based on common interests. The Association is advocating on behalf of school librarians, ensures participation of school librarians in strategic decision-making concerning development of school libraries in the country, and enables experience exchange and collaboration among school librarians. Currently it has 63 members.

The core functions of the National Library of Latvia (NLL) are the collection of national literature, its perpetual storage and the long-term provision of access to it. The collection of the NLL exceeds 4.2 million units. Most library activities and events are intended to support higher education, research and life-long learning. The NLL is the advisory and professional support center for all libraries in Latvia. The Library operates as the centre of Latvia's Interlibrary Loan system, ISBN, ISSN and ISMN centre, provides library and information services to the Saeima (parliament), and is implementing library-sector standardisation.

The Ministry of Culture is the state governed institution, which organizes and coordinates state culture policy, social integration policy and media policy. The Ministry of Culture has the following areas of responsibility: Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights, Libraries, Museums, Music, Fine Art, Folk Art and non-material heritage, Theatre, Literature, Film Art, Cultural Education, Protection of Monuments, Archives, Architecture, Design, Creative Industries and Dancing Art. The Libraries and Archives Division is a separate structural unit within the Cultural Policy Department, which deals with policy and legislation for the sector of libraries as well as registration and accreditation of libraries.

The Culture Information Systems Centre was founded in 1997 as the library consortium aiming at implementation of the State Unified Libraries Information System to connect eight libraries of the national importance in one network. The areas of operation of the CISC were later expanded to other heritage and memory institutions including archives and museums. Now, the CISC is the implementing agency under the Ministry of Culture and is responsible for implementation of all national technology, software development, capacity building and training programmes in the field of archives, libraries and museums, including the implementation of public library development project “Father’s Third Son” (2006-2013).

The Foundation plays a significant role in fundraising and supporting the National Library of Latvia and all public libraries throughout Latvia. It is a non-profit, public benefit organization established in 1998. For over 20 years, the Foundation has organised charitable events and projects, reaching out to donors with the aim to support the development and modernisation of public libraries, to enrich their collections, popularise reading and the use of library space.

The Foundation has raised over 2 million euros in donations, and the nameplates of the most generous donors are placed throughout the National Library of Latvia: on chairs, tables and shelves in the reading rooms or on the Donors’ Wall in the Lobby.

The overall goal of the Strategy is to develop libraries as a significant resource supporting smart and sustainable development of society, providing equal and qualitative access to Latvian cultural heritage, contributing to reading and information literacy, supporting cultural and educational processes, promoting use of creative potential and national integration processes as well as ensuring wide accessibility of state and municipal services. A set of key actions is defined as part of four strategic directions: 1) Preservation and accessibility of cultural heritage, 2) Access to high quality library services, 3) Contribution to development of knowledge society, and 4) Contribution to economic development.

The overall goal of the Strategy is to ensure digitisation, long-term preservation, wide accessibility and re-use of Latvian cultural heritage. The Strategy sets three strategic directions: 1) Supporting creation of digital cultural heritage in culture institutions (Actions include ensuring sustainability of digitisation processes; improving legal framework; establishing sustainable financial model to support digitisation, long-term preservation and accessibility; ensuring interoperability) 2) Promotion of use of digital cultural heritage (Actions include ensuring use of digital content in education and research, national identity and societal integration processes; promoting re-use in new products and services), and 3) Ensuring long-term preservation of digital cultural heritage (Actions include content digitisation, long-term preservation and promotion of use).

Adopted in 1998 and last amended in 2014, the Library Act applies to all libraries which directly or indirectly receives funding from the state budget and/or municipal budgets as well as to all registered private libraries in Latvia. The aim of the Law is to regulate the library field and the work of libraries as well as to promote preservation and development of Latvian cultural heritage. The Library Act regulates the legal basis for the operation of libraries, library operation principles, library functions, duties, rights, etc. Several Government regulations are issued according to the Library Act, which determine the number and education of library staff, building of library collections, library funding, etc.

Adopted in 1993 and last amended in 2012, the Act on the National Library of Latvia regulates the operation of the National Library of Latvia, describes sources of collection development, sets out functions and tasks of the National Library as well as regulates legal status, administration and financial activities of the National Library of Latvia.

Adopted in 2006, the Law prescribes the procedures by which the legal deposit copies intended for public use shall be supplied to the National Library of Latvia, the procedure by which the legal deposit copies shall be distributed among other libraries as referred by Law, as well as the procedures by which the National Library of Latvia shall harvest and archive online publications and perform the control of the delivery of the legal deposit copies. The purpose of the Law is to ensure the permanent preservation, processing and public use of the national cultural heritage – all the printed publications, unconventional or "grey” literature, electronic publications and online publications in Latvia. Deposited material, including online publications and harvested websites, can be accessed on-site. Deposited material serves as a foundation for the national bibliography and national publishing statistics.
Legal deposit libraries:

• National Library of Latvia;
• Academic Library of the University of Latvia;
• 4 university libraries;
• 2 regional libraries;
• Latvian Library for the Blind.

In 2017, a proposal for the new Legal Deposit Act by the National Library of Latvia was submitted to the Ministry of Culture.

The current Copyright Law was adopted in 2000 when it replaced the Law on Copyright and Related Rights from 1993. The law is being constantly amended; last updates are issued in 2017.

The Law includes exceptions for the needs of libraries, archives and libraries which include preservation and replacement (to replace works in the permanent collections or to preserve the work that has been damaged or has become unusable), for research or study (at request making available works in the permanent collections with exception of computer programmes), reproduced copies can be made available within a safe network (intranet).

Issued according to the Library Act, the Regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers legislate the number of qualified librarians required to run a library (depending on the status and type) as well as sets the qualification and education requirements for certain library positions.

The qualified librarian is defined as a person who works in a library and has received certain academic or professional education or certificate of continuing education in the field of libraries. Depending on the status of library (incl. libraries of national importance, main regional libraries, and libraries of local importance), the structure of library, the amount of functions and tasks that the library undertakes, certain requirements to have academic or professional education or certification are set for library staff.

There are different requirements depending on the library type (e.g. national, public, school or academic libraries). The positions requiring certain qualifications include library directors, managers of structural units (e.g. departments and divisions), main librarians, main bibliographers, librarians and bibliographers.

The University of Latvia Faculty of Social Sciences hosts the Department of Information and Library Studies which offers bachelor studies in information management and master’s degree studies in library and information science.

The Latvian Culture College offers professional higher education study programme “Library Science and Information”. After graduation students receive diploma of 1st level professional higher education and obtain the qualification of Library Information Specialist.

The National Library of Latvia, which has a status of institution of professional continuing education and professional development for adults, provides professional continuing education study programme for librarians. After graduation students receive qualification of Librarian (3rd level professional qualification level).

The Latvian Libraries Portal is an internet portal of the field, which ensures information about libraries of Latvia, their resources and offered services, as well as aggregates information about news and events in libraries and related fields and provide librarians with professional information. It offers a single platform for the exchange of professional information between libraries, librarians and users.

The national library week, celebrated annually since 1997, usually takes place during third week of April. It is a tradition initiated by the Library Association of Latvia (LAL), which selects a different topic for each year and invites libraries to join the celebration around selected topic. Libraries across the country provide various events and activities during the week to raise an awareness of opportunities and value of libraries for their different communities. In 2017, the Library Week featured the contribution of libraries to the Sustainable Development Goals aiming at raising awareness among different stakeholders about the value and role of libraries in development of communities.

The event, organised annually by the Library Association of Latvia in close cooperation with the National Library of Latvia, usually takes place during the month of April, close to Library Week, and consists of three main parts: Conference of Latvia librarians (and the Congress of LAL members); Awards Ceremony (the Library of the Year, the Librarian of the Year, etc.), and the Market of Ideas (an interactive exhibition aimed at peer sharing and learning).

The National Library of Latvia every year organises Round Table Discussions for Latvian academic, special and public library directors, managers and specialists. The annual event takes place in the first quarter of the year, and is focused on discussion of previous year's achievements and challenges, exchange of ideas and experience as well as defining next years priorities. After the event, the National Library prepares a summary paper which serves as an annual repport of Latvian library field.