Latvijas Nacionālā Bibliotēka: The National Library of Latvia

Abstract

The National Library of Latvia (NLL) was established as the State Library of Latvia in 1919, and its history mirrors that of the country in the 20th century. During the period of independence prior to World War II, it was the official agency of the national bibliography, and created and maintained a union catalogue, both of which functions it continues today through its Bibliographic Institute of Latvia and participation in the Library Information Network Consortium. The development of the NLL and its collections was defined from 1945 until 1991 by its status as a Communist ideological institution of the Soviet Union. Since Latvia regained independence in 1991, the NLL has once more taken on the functions of a modern national library, also developing its collections and rebuilding those that were destroyed or forbidden during the Soviet occupation. While maintaining a compilation of the national literature in its Letonica Collection and having interesting collections of rare books and manuscripts, maps, prints and graphic materials, the NLL has developed special collections and services (e.g. the Children's Literature Centre) that are unusual in a national library. Through its Library Advisory Service, it aids the development of the public library network in Latvia. Conscious of the importance of ICT developments, the NLL has Internet access for its staff and users, and is also a participant in a number of initiatives, particularly digitization projects, that help it play a part in Latvia's National Programme of Informatics. A priority for the future is the construction of a new library building. Plans for this in the context of a digital library are well advanced.