On Thursday, 11 June, in the third and final reading the Saeima adopted amendments to the Library Law bringing it in line with the needs of modern society and strengthening the role of libraries in education and culture.

The Library Law was adopted back in 1998, and since then the functions of libraries have changed significantly. The role of libraries has expanded considerably, and in many respects the current regulations no longer reflect reality. Library operations and functions need to be strengthened, particularly given their importance in promoting literacy and public awareness, as previously noted by the Education, Culture, and Science Committee of the Saeima, which was responsible for advancing the amendments in the Saeima, emphasising that an educated and informed public is also essential for national security.

The goal is to ensure free and unrestricted access to information, knowledge, and cultural heritage for everyone as well as to promote lifelong learning and civic participation. Libraries are increasingly becoming multifunctional centres, especially in regions where they are often the only place that provides both cultural and social services and opportunities for the local community to gather.

The amendments expand the definition of a library, establishing it as an institution for education, information, culture, and civic engagement. Similarly, the law establishes for the first time the Latvian library network as a balanced, coherent, and unified system of national, municipal, and private libraries covering the entire territory of the country and defines all types of libraries within the Latvian library network. This network will include the National Library of Latvia, public libraries, libraries of higher education institutions, general and vocational education institutions as well as special libraries.

The amendments also clarify the core functions of libraries, including strengthening their role in the development of local communities and the preservation of cultural heritage. At the same time, the administrative burden has been reduced; for example, the library accreditation period has been extended from five to six years, and the quality of operations at libraries in general and vocational education institutions will henceforth be assessed as part of the respective educational institution’s accreditation process, while the National Library of Latvia will no longer require accreditation. The amount of information required for library registration has also been reduced.

Saeima Press Service