In 1999 UNESCO member states in the General Conference drew a resolution regarding the construction project of the new National Library of Latvia. UNESCO member states and the international society were invited to provide support for the project, stating that the world should have internationally identified multifunctional centres like these, which help to take care of the cultural heritage, enable access to educational, cultural and scientific information, promote diversity, awareness of ethnicity and mutual understanding. Currently, just one project has received similar support by UNESCO - the well-known ‘’Bibliotheca Alexandrina’’ (‘’The New Library of Alexandria’’) in Egypt.
Libraries have a meaningful role and contribute to vital processes of the society and UNESCO pays a lot of attention to them in relation to information, communication and cultural projects. That’s the reason why UNESCO recommends seeing the Library through a much wider perspective. Library is a symbol of knowledge, collected all the way through the world’s history. It is a multifunctional medium of information, a stockpile of memories and an intermediary of communication, of educated and developed society and social processes.
The new building of National Library of Latvia was opened in 2014 UNESCO highlights the role of National Library project both in Latvia and globally because it is a place for meetings and a platform for a dialogue on regional, national and international level. The National Library means way more than being just a building - it matches and fills the needs of being a modern and high quality centre of knowledge, education and culture.
Visual material: National Library of Latvia
