What is the state of libraries in Latvia in 2014, what are the trends and where do we go from there? Points for discussion for a meeting of Latvian librarians with IFLA president Sinikka Sipilä and HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands on August 29. 2014.

1. Latvia:
State of the libraries
2014
Uldis Zariņš
National Library of Latvia

2. Library network
• 1759 libraries:
– The National Library of Latvia
– 30 university libraries
– 20 college libraries
– 35 special libraries
– 801 public libraries
– 861 school libraries
• 4000 librarians
• 71% - 1 people libraries
• 3 library associations

3. Library users
• ~1 million library users
– 440 000 of public library users
• ~21 million library visits per year
– 10 million public library visits
• ~27 million loans per yer
– 13,5 million public library loans
(all data 2012, NLL)

4. Which means...
• 43% of Latvian population are using libraries
• 1 library per 1251 inhibitants
• 34 library items per inhibitant
• 80 library items per library user
• 23 library visits per yer per library user
(all data 2012, NLL)

5. ICT usage
• 90% library users are using computers and
internet at the library
• For 20% of those library is the only way to use
computer and internet
(Source: KISC, 2011)

6. Moreover...
• 58% of population are happy with the quality of
library services (94% of those with an opinion)
• 89% of library internet users aggree that libraries
have a big role in the development of society
• 88 % of library internet users aggree that library
is the only free center for culture and
information in the neighbourhood
• 70% of library internet users aggree that library
has become the center of the neighbourhood
(all data 2011, KISC)

7. And even more importantly...
• Direct net annual benefit of public libraries –
9 206 000 euro per year
(cost-benefit ratio – 1,37)
• Annual indirect benefits –
14 072 000 euro per year
(cost-benefit ratio – 1,96)
(all data 2011, KISC)

8. How did we get there
• Strong soviet heritage
• Strong co-operation with Nordic countries
• State unified library information system project
as a catalyst for change
• Support of the Bill and Melinda Gates
Foundation as a multiplicator of impact
• Continuous support by the National Library and
Cultural Information Systems Center

9. Results
• 4000 computers installed in 874 libraries
• All libraries connected to internet and provide
free access to internet, including Wi-Fi
• 10 regional educational centers
• 1800 librarians have received each 140 hours of
training
• Training in library advocacy

10. Trends (1)
• Number of readers and loans shrink, number of
visits – grow
• The budgets are increasing
• The number of librarians and their wages are
growing
• Renovations of new libraries continue
• Participation in local and international projects

11. Trends (2)
• Research and digitisation of local history
• ICT training for all groups of users
• Remote services
• New forms of events – creative workshops,
poetry slam dunks, sports and recreational
activities, involvement in bigger cultural events
• Use of social media and video
• Non-traditional services can become a burden
too...

12. Points for discussion
• Where do we go from here?
• What can we do more (and less) and better?
• How do we respond to societal needs?
• How do we respond to outside challenges?
• How do we raise the visibility of libraries and it
services?
• How do we measure impact of libraries?
• How do we prove our worth?

13. In short...
• What are the most imporant challenges for
libraries and how can they be met?
• To what societal challenges can libraries
respond and how?

14. Thank you!