In 1998 the Department of Children’s Literature, established in 1993, was transformed into the Centre of Children’s Literature (CCL).

CCL focuses upon the library and information provision and service to children and adolescents under 16. More than 4560 units are placed in the free access collection: books for children and adolescents published in Latvia and children’s literature, as well as periodicals in foreign languages.

With the aim of promoting enjoying of reading and to attract new readers to library various events are held: tours for pupils, exhibitions of children’s creative works, contests, book launches, meetings with authors and artists of the works, joint discussions with publishers on specific topics.

The Centre of Children’s Literature, supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation, coordinates two significant culture programs for reading promotion. The subprogram “The Children’s Panel of Judges” since 2001 has involved more than 59 500 pupils from grade 1 to 9 throughout Latvia in reading and evaluating the newly acquired books for children. The second subprogram “The First Encounter with the Library” was launched in 2008 and targets two and three years old children and their parents. It has attracted additional six thousand young readers to libraries.

CCL implements an extensive continuous education program for employees of children’s and school libraries and teachers, publishes information about new developments in children’s literature and issues in the work of children’s libraries in mass media.