On Friday June 18 at 3 pm suddenly the floor of the main repository in the main building of the National Library of Latvia in the centre of Riga collapsed. 1200 books fell in damp cellar. More than 77 thousand books located close to the place of the accident were endangered. This part of the repository consists of the newest books highly demanded from library clients (books published from 1990 till 2010 – foreign literature).

Thanks to fast and professional action of fire brigade and rescuers in couple of hours the books were evacuated from the cellar with the help of the library staff. The restorers from the National Library of Latvia investigated the condition of the books. The most part of 1200 books, fallen in the cellar were damaged, 24 of them were wet and deformed in very bad condition. There is only one copy of the damaged books. The calamity in the National Library of Latvia was top news in all televisions, radio stations, newspapers and internet portals in Latvia. Everybody acknowledged that the National Library of Latvia needs a new building.

The Minister of Culture visited the place of the accident and acknowledged that the situation is emergency.

The following morning on Saturday June 19 started with visit of the owners and managers of the building (the State agency of real estates), independent experts and the responsible authorities. Ad hoc committee was established consisting of representatives from the Library, Ministry of Culture and owners and managers of the building.

Expertise of the endangered place was done and the judgement was to evacuate all 77 thousand books. The firemen secured the floor next to the emergency place. Library staff started to evacuate the endangered place of the repository with the help of firemen and rescuers. 20 thousand books were evacuated during Friday and Saturday. 60 thousand books were still left and had to be evacuated as soon as possible! Realizing the emergency of the situation the library staff decided to call volunteers for help.

On Sunday all forces were devoted to organize the evacuation and to publish the call to help in all media.

Monday morning the works to secure the floor were continued with the help of the builders of the new building of the National Library of Latvia (Castle of Light). More than 200 people came to help to evacuate the books. Also armed forces responded to the call and helped. Three long chains of people were formed and books were evacuated and safely placed along the walls in long low piles in upper levels of the building. 30 thousand books were evacuated with the help of volunteers. Another call was published looking for more volunteers. Informational support from all media in Latvia was high.

Tuesday morning started with more volunteers, firemen men from armed forces and library staff forming long chains of people. The evacuation was finished in 5 hours and the emergency situation was stabilized. Four days took to evacuate in total 78 thousand books with great help of volunteers. The President of the Republic of Latvia visited the Library. He visited the emergency place, met with the Library administration and volunteers and in front of the press acknowledged the need for the new building as soon as possible.

The ad hoc committee will meet on June 30 and important decisions will have to be made about new place and new shelves for 78 thousand evacuated books – mainly the most demanded foreign literature.

The main building of the National Library of Latvia this year celebrates 100 year anniversary. The accident happened in the extension to the building, which was built due to lack of the space for the repository. Today the Library is located in 7 buildings. Most of them are very old and are in the similar condition (or even worse – the building of the Institute of Bibliography)! Actions have to be taken immediately!

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Ilze Egle
Head of Communication
National Library of Latvia
K.Barona Street 14,
LV1423, Riga
Latvia
Phone +371 67365255
Mobile +37129274845
ilze.egle@lnb.lv
www.lnb.lv