Presentation realised for the study day Le Rôle stratégique des bibliothèques dans l'appropriation du numérique par les citoyens en France et en Europe,2013 september 10, in the Bibliothèque publique d’information, Paris. The purpose of the study day was to present the results of an extensive survey, realised in 17 european countries libraries, for the Gates Fondation. Latvia Public Libraries were part of this survey and are a great example of the e-inclusion services offered in libraries. This pwp presents this library network which received the financial help of the Gates Fondation.

2. 2
Strong Libraries Build Strong
Communities
The Global Libraries Initiative in Latvia
Sandra Ozoliņa
Deputy Director // Program
Manager
Culture Information
Systems Centre, Latvia
Public library development
project «Father’s Third Son»
Le rôle stratégique des
bibliothèques dans
l’appropriation du numérique
par les citoyens en France et

3. 3
Latvia
•The central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)
•In North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea
•In 1991 Latvia became independent from the Soviet Union
•Democratic, parliamentary republic
•Memberships:
European Union, NATO, United Nations Organization, Council of Europe, World Trade Organization,
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, etc.
•Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq. miles
•Population: 2,067,887 (Riga, the capital 717,000)
•Urban: 66% Rural: 32%
•Ethnic composition:
59.03% Latvian,
28.29% Russian,
3.74% Belorussian,
2.53% Ukrainian,
6.41% other nationalities
•Official language: Latvian

4. 4
Latvia is also
Known for its
Well Developed
5th fastest internet
in the world
ICT
Infrastructure...
Technology leader in
the Baltic States
About 3000 high-speed wireless
Internet connection points or 1
to 500 inhabitants. 1/3 of those
points are located in public
libraries.

5. But digital gap exists:
•between people with access
to ICT
•and people in rural regions
and with low income
Libraries – the place to
access internet for every 5th
inhabitant
5

6. Number of public
libraries in EU
6

7. 7
Public libraries
in Latvia 18
min
13
min
24
min
16
min

8. strengthening
and using
capacities of
public libraries to
facilitate better
and procreative
use of resources
offered by free
access to IT and
the Internet
among users with
the aim to
improve their
quality of life
8
«Father’s Third Son»
(3td project) through
through
strengthening
and using
capacities of
public libraries to
facilitate better
and procreative
use of resources
offered by free
access to IT and
the Internet
among users with
the aim to
improve their
quality of life

9. Public library
users
% of all inhabitants
9

10. Internet users
% of all inhabitants
10

11. Personal benefits
% of all library
internet users
11

12. Local community
benefits
% of all library
internet users
12

13. Impact
Areas
13

14. Annual spending on
libraries per capita
14

15. Why Partnership
with Libraries?
Public image: Library – centre of social life and centre for
searching and exchanging information
High overall confidence to libraries among inhabitants
Librarians – person of trust in local communities
2nd most reliable source of information for inhabitants
Partner`s appreciation of competent librarians and the
significant role of libraries in educating society and
distributing information
Up-to-date ICT infrastructure in all public libraries
throughout the country for improving everyone`s life
ensuring access to information and e-services (815
libraries)

16. Changing Role of
Public Libraries
Home Space Public Libraries Work Space
Brand
Trusted, well-known
Environment
Informal, safe,
non-threatening
Network
Pan-European,
community based
Free Access
To information
technology,
cultural,
education,
employment etc.

17. 17
Final Remarks
 Libraries do
contribute to the
DAE and EU202
goals
 Latvia is a very
succesful example
for other EU
Member States
Power of network
Open to cross-sector
collaboration
 Existing

18. Thanks
for
attention!
See video
stories on
libraries and
librarians in
Latvia on
Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2sR7LyTepw Room for Everyone at the Library
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAhjpnVGraM Centre of Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXFBUP171Ic Libraries for Communities