The Keys ep46 The National Library’s 100-year journey
As an institution, the National Library of Latvia has been around for a long time. However, in a civilised world, the building is considered just as important as the collection of books and the staff that oversees it. Moreover, it is often regarded as a national symbol.
The National Library of Latvia, formerly called the State Library, was founded in the summer of 1919, shortly after Latvia was established. In 1926, the Parliament had decided on the construction of a new library. Initially, the plan was to finish it by 1928; however, nobody could have predicted that it would actually take 88 years instead of two. Though, unlike many dramatic tales in Latvia’s history, this one had a happy ending.
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