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Strong Libraries Build Strong Communities

The Global Libraries Initiative in Latvia

Sandra OzoliņaDeputy Director // Program ManagerCulture Information Systems Centre, LatviaPublic library development project «Father’s Third Son»

Le rôle stratégique des bibliothèques dans l’appropriation du numérique par les citoyens en France et en Europe10 September 2013, Paris, FR

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Latvia•The central country of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania)•In North-eastern Europe, on the east coast of the Baltic Sea•In 1991 Latvia became independent from the Soviet Union•Democratic, parliamentary republic•Memberships:European Union, NATO, United Nations Organization, Council of Europe, World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, etc.

•Area: 64,589 sq.km or 24,937 sq. miles•Population: 2,067,887 (Riga, the capital 717,000)•Urban: 66% Rural: 32%•Ethnic composition:

59.03% Latvian,28.29% Russian,3.74% Belorussian,2.53% Ukrainian,6.41% other nationalities

•Official language: Latvian

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Latvia is also Known for its Well Developed ICT Infrastructure...

5th fastest internet in the world

Technology leader in the Baltic States

About 3000 high-speed wireless Internet connection points or 1 to 500 inhabitants. 1/3 of those points are located in public libraries.

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But digital gap exists:•between people with access to ICT•and people in rural regions and with low income

Libraries – the place to access internet for every 5th inhabitant

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Number of public libraries in EU

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Public libraries in Latvia

18 min

13 min

24 min

16 min

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«Father’s Third Son» (3td project)through

strengthening and using

capacities of public libraries to facilitate better and procreative use of resources offered by free access to IT and

the Internet among users with

the aim to improve their quality of life

through strengthening

and using capacities of

public libraries to facilitate better and procreative use of resources offered by free access to IT and

the Internet among users with

the aim to improve their quality of life

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Public library users% of all inhabitants

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Internet users% of all inhabitants

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Personal benefits% of all library internet users

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Local community benefits% of all library internet users

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Impact Areas

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Annual spending on libraries per capita

Why Partnership with Libraries?

Public image: Library – centre of social life and centre for searching and exchanging information

High overall confidence to libraries among inhabitantsLibrarians – person of trust in local communities2nd most reliable source of information for inhabitants

Partner`s appreciation of competent librarians and the significant role of libraries in educating society and distributing information

Up-to-date ICT infrastructure in all public libraries throughout the country for improving everyone`s life ensuring access to information and e-services (815 libraries)

Changing Role of Public Libraries

Home Space Public Libraries Work Space

BrandTrusted, well-

known

EnvironmentInformal, safe,

non-threatening

NetworkPan-European,

community based

Free AccessTo information

technology, cultural,

education, employment etc.

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Final Remarks

Libraries do contribute to the DAE and EU202 goals

Latvia is a very succesful example for other EU Member StatesPower of networkOpen to cross-sector collaboration

Existing Opportunities within the Global Libraries’ EU Strategy

Thanks

for

attention!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2sR7LyTepw Room for Everyone at the Library

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAhjpnVGraM Centre of Life

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXFBUP171Ic Libraries for Communities

See video stories on libraries and librarians in Latvia on Youtube: