The National Library of Latvia (NLL) is a state cultural institution – a public academic library, whose main task is to create a collection of national literature and preserve it in perpetuity.

At the same time, the library supports and fosters higher education, research and lifelong learning, as well as reading promotion activities for children.

NLL is home to more than 4 million items of our national heritage – materials about Latvia and Latvians, Latvian and foreign publications, as well as works by Latvian authors.

The National Library of Latvia (NLL) was founded on 29 August, 1919, and since 2014, the NLL has been located in the specially built library building – by Latvians also known as Gaismas pils – the Castle of Light, named after our best-loved patriotic choir song.

Gunārs Birkerts, the architect of the National Library of Latvia, was born in Riga in 1925. After studying in Germany, Gunārs Birkerts moved to USA where he became one of the USA’s most prominent post-war modernists, masterfully utilising metaphors, symbols and light in his architecture.

When designing the National Library of Latvia, Birkerts was influenced by Latvian ethnography, folklore and literature. He was guided by the conviction that it was our folklore that helped the Latvian people survive and preserve our identity under the yoke of foreign regimes.

The new building was opened on 29 August, 2014 – the 95^th anniversary of the founding of the National Library of Latvia.

The National Library of Latvia is now a landmark of the city of Riga and a striking example of 21^st-century expressive modernist architecture. In 2023, the NLL building was included in a list of nationally significant cultural monuments.

FUN FACTS

• The People’s Bookshelf in the atrium of the National Library of Latvia (NLL) is one of the central design elements of the building as well as the heart of the library. The Bookshelf stores books donated to the library and is currently home to almost 8 000 books in 50 languages from all over the world, including gifts from foreign presidents, ministers and members of royal houses. Anyone is welcome to donate a book to the NLL – one that is of special importance to them, writing a message or personal story about the book on its title page. Learn more here: https://tautasgramatuplaukts.lv/en/
• The library also houses Dainu skapis or the Cabinet of Folk Songs. This cabinet is a symbol of the cultural spirit of the Latvian people. Since 1880, it has housed the folk songs collected and musically arranged by folklorist Krišjānis Barons. In 2001, the Dainu skapis became a part of the world’s cultural heritage by being included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
• The library’s forecourt on the Daugava River side has become a favoured spot for skateboarders from Latvia and abroad. The skate spot’s ambassador is internationally renowned Latvian professional skateboarder Madars Apse, a friend of the library.

Video about the library: