Latvia’s Saeima has passed the Law on the Implementation of the Latvian National Library Project. The Law went into effect on 6 June, 2003.

The Law states that the Project shall consist of the construction of a library building designed by architect Gunnar Birkert; the development of infrastructure for the provision of information services in the newly constructed building; the equipping of the library; and the development of a national unified library information system. The Law defines the Ministry of Culture as the Project’s commissioning party; indicates the financial resources for implementing the Project; and explains the National Library Foundation’s rights to raise funds and accept donations and gifts intended for the implementation of the Project. The Law also specifies that the land necessary for the needs of the Latvian National Library, as well as the buildings currently occupying this land, shall be alienated for the needs of the State, in accordance with the Law on the Forced Alienation of Immoveable Property. A map of the land necessary for the L.N.L. is attached to the Law.

The implementation of the Project will be supervised by a Board of Trustees established specially for this purpose by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Board, led by the Minister for Finance, consists of six persons, including representatives from the Saeima, the Riga City Council, and the Chairperson of the National Cultural Committee. The Latvian National Library Foundation is represented by the Foundation’s Chairman of the Board, Undīne Būde.

Address: Tērbatas iela 75, 4th floor, Riga, LV-1001.

Phone: +371 67843767 Fax: +371 67296434

E-mail: gaisma@gaisma.lv