UNESCO World Heritage List is an international inventory, a tool that enables to put into effect the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. This Convention is a set of guidelines based on the idea of common, international principles concerning conservation, protection and promotion of cultural values and the values of nature. The places inscribed on this list are universal – understandable and meaningful for all nations, unique, authentic and exceptional one-of-a-kind cultural or natural areas of heritage that meets one or more of the requirements of this Convention. Latvia appears in relation to two entries on the World Heritage list: The Historical Centre of Riga and The Struve Geodetic Arc.

Intangible cultural heritage is the foundation of the world’s cultural diversity and it plays an extensive role in defining the ethnic identity and the sense of belonging. UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includes the most distinctive testimonies of heritage expression: social customs, rituals, games, festivities, celebrations, craftsmanship, oral traditions and expressions (unwritten knowledge of tradition), knowledge and understanding of nature and universe. The purpose of the List is to promote and raise the overall awareness of society about the significance of intangible cultural heritage, and also provide the basis for cross-cultural discussion about the values.

Intangible cultural heritage appears to be particularly vulnerable these days when globalisation and changes in social structures are present and in progress. This is the reason why the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding was made. The aim is to bring together the global society for a concerted effort to safeguard the diverse nature of cultural heritage by allocating the necessary resources and working together with relevant institutions and custodians of the tradition.

"Memory of the World" is a UNESCO programme, which was initiated to preserve the world’s documentary heritage for the next generations. This programme focuses on exploring diversity in writing, drawing and engraving or any other fixed form or relics of cultural or historical importance. Documentary heritage is a part of world’s cultural heritage, "Memory of the World" programme for conservation, protection and exploration of the heritage commenced in 1993. The programme directs the attention of the nations towards protection of documentary conservation and one of its best-known parts is the International Memory of the World Register, where the most important historical documentary testimonies are included. Latvia is represented twice on this list. An extensive compilation of folksongs – also known as "Dainu Skapis" - was originally collected and handwritten by Krišjānis Barons, listed in the year 2001. Another entry was listed in 2009 – a joint compilation by the Baltic States of their common documentary heritage - "Baltijas ceļš" (The Baltic Way) - organisation and development of a unique event - a live chain comprised by citizens from three different countries symbolising their unified efforts for independence.

Back in 1999 the member states of UNESCO in General Conference drew a resolution regarding the construction project of the new National Library of Latvia. UNESCO member states and the international society was invited to provide aid and support for the project, stating that the world should have internationally recognizable 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 from UNESCO - the Alexandria Library in Egypt. The new building of National Library of Latvia, opened in 2014, and is more than just a building - it corresponds to and fulfils the needs of being a modern and high quality centre of knowledge, education and culture.