LATVIA: After 20 years of discussions, the building of a new national library can finally begin in Latvia. But the project has low public support

Record ID: 745402

  • Title: LATVIA: After 20 years of discussions, the building of a new national library can finally begin in Latvia. But the project has low public support
  • Date: 27th June 2008
  • Summary: DOCUMENT TO BE PLACED IN TIME CAPSULE BEING SIGNED BY ARCHITECT OF THE LIBRARY, GUNNAR BIRKERTS DOCUMENT TO BE PLACED IN TIME CAPSULE BEING SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE LATVIAN NATIONAL LIBRARY, ANDRIS VILKS DOCUMENT BEING PLACED IN CAPSULE VARIOUS OF LATVIAN CULTURE MINISTER, HELENA DEMAKOVA PLACING TIME CAPSULE IN FOUNDATION BLOCK WORKERS FILLING BOX WITH CEMENT WORKERS
  • Embargoed: 12th July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Latvia
  • Country: Latvia
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Education
  • Reuters ID: LVADWV0WKADDD9K2U4AHRQJD9UXV
  • Story Text: The building of a new national library in Latvia has been on the political agenda since 1928, and twenty years after a tender for the library was announced, construction can finally start. But almost 60 per cent of Latvians say it is the wrong time to start the building project.
    The construction of the glass building on the bank of the river Daugava in the capital Riga, designed by exiled Latvian architect Gunnar Birkerts, started with an official ceremony last week.
    During the ceremony, attended by the director of the National Library, Andris Vilks, Latvia's Culture Minister, Helena Demakova and Birkerts a time capsule was placed in the buildings foundations.

    "The new library is our belief in the uniqueness and value of Latvian culture, the significance of Latvian statehood and national vitality," Vilks read from the document signed be himself and Birkerts before being placed in the time capsule.
    The construction of the library is scheduled for completion in 2011, and is expected to cost 135.3 million lats (192.5 million euros). The facilities will store 6.5 million books in 50 languages, and have room for 1200 visitors.
    The building of the library has been delayed because of discussions over the design, its placement on the bank of Daugava and many previous governments failing to find funding, despite having it on its list priorities.

    "This moment is long awaited. But I am overwhelmed by the passionate opposition to it. We must remember that this project has taken 20 years, and I think that at least 10 years have been lost," Birkerts, who has spent most of his career in the United States said.
    A poll carried out by research company, SKDS in May of this year, say 57 per cent of Latvians think it is unnecessary to build a new library in the near future.

    "This library is still such an elitist project. The way it is presented, the way it is carried out, it seems refined and elitist," said the project director at research company SKDS, sociologist, Ieva Strode.
    People compare the building to the legend of a man, known as the fool, who rides up a glass mountain and saves a sleeping princess, thus freeing the kingdom from evil and dark.

    "Just like the whole symbol, the glass hill. People feel that they don't have a golden horse to ride up with," Strode said referring to the shape of the building.
    The library is also nicknamed the Castle of Light. A popular Latvian songs says the Castle of Light is a storage house for national spiritual values. According to another legend, the Castle of Light sank into the depths during the bloody period of oppression in Latvia, and the legend says that when brave men and women call upon it, the castle will rise from the darkness, and people will once again be free.
    Strode said people think it is the wrong time to finance such a build, because they are worried about the current economic situation. People Reuters spoke to agreed.

    "I think it is premature. If inflation is increasing like now, maybe we should wait," Riga resident, Agris Milkins said.

    "In my opinion, the country has other, more important problems and needs, such as the situation on the roads. It is more urgent," motorists, Eriks Grantins said.
    But some leading economists in Latvia say the construction work might stimulate the economy. Vilks support this notion.

    "Under these circumstances we need big government orders to rouse the economy. The money should not not to be buried, but circulate and be there for the people," he said.
    The director of the library expects people's concerns to be eased with the signing of an expenditure contract with the anti-corruption organisation, Transparency International.
    The current national library is spread over five buildings in Riga. In addition to national and regional literature treasures, the library holds part of a Polish collection, from the Zaluski library collected by brothers Josef and Andrzej Zaluski. Tzarist Russia scattered this collection over the Russian empire to punish the Poles after the failed 18th century Polish uprising.
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