The document summarizes the National Library of Latvia (NLL) Project, which involves constructing a new building for the national library called the "Castle of Light", as well as several related digital library and information network initiatives. It discusses how the project has received international support through UNESCO resolutions, and has led to synergies like the development of the State Unified Library Information Network (Light Net) and Digital Library (Lighthouse), as well as renovations of municipal libraries around Latvia.

1. UNESCO Resolution in life – development through the Project Andris Vilks The 7th ICE meeting in Riga 18.03.2010

2. General Conference Resolution, Paris, 1999 Referring to the appeal for international support for the National Library of Latvia (NLL) Project by the President of Latvia to the Executive Board on 22 October 1998, Taking into consideration that the new National Library of Latvia will serve as a multifunctional information centre providing unlimited access to knowledge, thought, culture and information and will encourage ethnic integration and cultural diversity according to UNESCO principles,

3. Considering the importance of protecting cultural heritage and noting the significance of this cultural landmark for the future competitiveness of Latvia and the cultural development and cooperation in the Baltic region, Urges Member States and the international community to provide aid for the implementation of this project.

4. National Library of Latvia (NLL) Project The new building of the NLL (Castle of Light) designed by Gunnar Birkerts Repositarium in Silakrogs State Unified Library Information Network (Light Net) Digital Library (Lighthouse)

6. Synergies from NLL Project State Unified Library Information Network (Light Net) – Trešais tēva dēls (Father’s Third Son) Small Castles of Light around Latvia Paper conservation Digital Library (Lighthouse) Language University of Latvia (Folk Songs’s Cabinet etc.)

7. State Unified Library Information Network ( Light Net) 2001 Governement ratifies the concept of the State Unified Library Information Network. The Law of the Construction of the NLL passed in 2002 garanties funding till autumn 2006 (~ 12 mi Ls) – internet connections in all municipal public and academic libraries, LIS, computers and training, LIS in school libraries.

8. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trešais tēva dēls Father’s Third Son Latvia – first country outside Amerika All 874 public libraries supplied with new computers (also software and equipment for copying, scanning and printing). Main regional libraries – with special computers for site-impaired users 10 fully-equipped, computerised training rooms for library users and librarians ~ 18 mi USD

10. Regional centres of education

11. Small Castles of Light around Latvia Public discussions about new building of the National Library motivated local authorities to pay more attention to their municipal libraries The Light Net has attracted more library users, especially young people New buildings of municipal public libraries, extensions, new premises, reconstructions

12. During the last years New extensions - 33 libraries New premises - 38 libraries New buildings - 3 libraries Reconstructions - 15 libraries Decoration works - 120 libraries

13. Daugavpils 229 km from Riga

14. Dobele 77 km from Riga

15. Madona 172 km from Riga

16. Preiļi 203 km from Riga

17. Vidzeme Branch of Riga Central Library

18. Tukums 68 km from Riga

19. Valmiera 107 km from Riga

20. Ventspils 184 km from Riga

21. Also Ventspils Branch Library of Ventspils - Parventa

22. Castle of Light from snow in Cesis 87 km from Riga

23. Depression is no threat to us

24. Paper conservation In 2001 starts more active collaboration of archives, museums and libraries Shared problem – preservation and restoration of collections Collaboration with ZFB Objective – to establish one centre for all memory institutions, who preserve paper documents More in Iveta’s Daugule’s presentation

25. Digital Library (Lighthouse) 2002 first pilot projects 2003 established common committee of standards for arcives, museums and libraries 2005 pilota project / portal Jāzeps Vītols: Outstanding Latvian composer and the first Dean of Music Academy, Sheet music, books, records, photos, videos, Small fragments in different collections, Excellent, beautiful handwriting

27. 2006 – 2008 investments in the development of DOM System, large amount of digital resources, partners ~ 30 memory institutions NLL participates in Europeana and World Digital Library 2009 – 2013 NLL has received two grants from ERDF (5 505 916 EUR). Mass digitization of collections will provide 3.5 mi pages of OCR text

28. Latvian DOM

29. One part of this Tartu map is in National Library collection and the other part in Cēsis Museum

32. Brīvā zeme, October 8, 1936.

33. Other projects in Europe

34. Language The Digital Library will encompass 4 – 5 mi pages – which is both good information material and large resource for the Latvian Language Corp 2008 several Instituts of the University of Latvia, other higher educational establishments, agencies and NLL signed collaboration agreement on establishing Latvian Language Corp NLL participate in Common Language Resources and Technology Infrastructure (CLARIN) Project, which conform to the strategy of TEL 2010 - 2012 Last year in Milan, Italy during IFLA conference strategies of national libraries of small nations were discussed. One of the topics was - the role of libraries regarding languages

35. This year NLL will participate in another (third) project funded by ERDF supporting further development of the Language Corp After the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers met with Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer with the support of private and academic institutions a centre of competences - Language Shore is being developed

36. University of Latvia (Folk Songs Cabinet etc.) During last years collaboration with the University of Latvia has become wider In 2009 University of Latvia received approval from the City Council to develop University Campus next to the territory of the new Library building On the 5th floor of the Castle of Light there will be University of Latvia Folklore depository, including Folk Songs Cabinet, which was listed in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2001 Under the single agreement NLL collaborate with the Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Institute of Mathematics and Library of the University

38. NLL Project and creativity Literature Visual Arts Performing Arts Music Interdisciplinary Arts Online game Lets Build a Castle of Light Lego Castle of Light Children

40. Literature Albrecht, Dietmar. Von Tels-Paddern bis zur Fischermai : neun Kapitel Lettland und Estland : Orte, Texte, Zeichen. Munchen : Martin Meidenbauer, 2008. 306 S. Colloquia Baltica; 16

41. Vitiello, Giuseppe. Alessandrie d'Europa : Storie e visioni di biblioteche nazionali. Published in 2002, S. Bonnard (Milano). 264 p

42. Installation from newspapers, Dedication to Viļa Lāča State Library Kristaps Ģelzis Burtnieka pils, newspapers. 1988 Theatre Museum, (with participation of O.Tillbergs, O.Pētersons, A.Breže, J.Putrāms) Visual Arts, 1988

43. 1995 Orange Entry, Ojārs Petersons, Riga School of Economics

44. 2002 La Biennale di Venezia, 8th International exhibition of Architecture

45. In September 2002 young artists from the group Ma1z3 creatively played upon the symbolic meaning and origin of Birkert’s Project within Latvian exposition in La Biennale di Venezia, the 8th International Exhibition of Architecture. It was a multimedia project with applied art objects, videos, sounds, smells, internet sites and other elements.

46. Musicians from band Rigasound (Linards Kulless, Voldemārs Johansons) and band Kolka Music presented installation of synthetic and nature sounds. In order to create special ambience they used aromatherapy utilizing herbs collected in the wildest parts of Latvia.

47. In the catalogue of the exposition Ainārs Kamoliņš wrote: “Among many other cultural symbols in Latvia, the Castle of Light has its own special place. The Castle of Light is best described as its permanent absence. Its absence from the present. Its absence of any kind of direct observation. Absence even from its own realisation.” “ It will be possible to raise the castle once both physical and spiritual freedom and openness has been achieved not only by individuals, but by society as a whole. Only in this type of freedom does the meaning in the castle’s resurrection appear.”

48. Krišs Salmanis The moment will come, 2003

49. MUSIC Solo album of musician AKE (A.Slišāns) named Castle of Light. Presentation November 13, 2009

50. Labvēlīgais Tips “Tu man virsū negāzies” Don’t lean on me

51. Online game Lets build a Castle of Light

52. Children Laura, Kristīne, Evija 13 years