Latvia:State of the libraries

2014

Uldis ZariņšNational Library of Latvia

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

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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

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

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...

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?

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?

Thank you!