Hidekazu System Co., Ltd. Why does Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries, have 15 times as many libraries as Japan? “Library of Latvia”, released on Friday, September 20th

[Hidekazu System Co., Ltd.] Why does Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries, have 15 times as many libraries as Japan? “Library of Latvia”, released on Friday, September 20th
*Hidewa System Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 12, 2024
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Why does Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries, have 15 times as many libraries as Japan? “Library of Latvia”, released on Friday, September 20th
*Hidewa System Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Chairman and President: Tomokazu Ueda) will publish a new book, “Library of Latvia”, on September 20, 2024. *
Libraries in Latvia – A shining cultural hub –
The main character of this book is a library in Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries. In this country, libraries have been called “islands of light” and “points of light.”
For Latvians, light means “knowledge, culture and self-growth” and is a word that brings to mind libraries. The number of public libraries in this country, which has a population of less than 2 million people, is more than 15 times that of Japan per capita. This astonishing number even overwhelms Scandinavian countries, which are said to be “public library superpowers”. Why are there so many public libraries in every corner of a small country?
Latvia became independent from the former Soviet Union in 1991. For more than 30 years since then, the library community has worked together across different types of libraries to work single-mindedly to rebuild libraries, in order to recover the national language that was weakened during the occupation and the cultural heritage that was lost. The symbol of this is the New National Library, also known as the Castle of Light, which was completed in 2014.
Prior to the opening, the first materials began to be brought in on January 18 of the same year. In the frigid temperature of -15 degrees Celsius, 15,000 citizens formed a two-kilometre-long line to hand-deliver materials from the old building to the new building. This book is an attempt to take a close look at the path that Latvia’s libraries have taken, and to elucidate the power of libraries in a small country.
Latvian libraries are supported by people who love reading. Libraries, as a social device that circulates books, have tried to meet people’s reading needs in every possible way to satisfy their desire to read. The interactive activities between avid readers and libraries are central to the circuit that preserves the records of Latvian, a minority language, and the memory of Latvian culture.
* ■Table of Contents*
Chapter 1 Story surrounding books: Language, publishing, and libraries Chapter 2 Public libraries in Latvia: Overcoming two occupations Chapter 3 Services of the Latvian Public Library
Chapter 4 Castle of Light/New National Library of Latvia
Chapter 5 Island of Light/Riga Central Library
Chapter 6 Discussing libraries in Latvia and Japan
* ■Author*
*Yuko Yoshida*
Professor of Library, Information and Media Department, University of Tsukuba. Doctor of Education (Education) Specializes in public library theory.
His major works include “Libraries as Media” (Japan Library Association, 2004), “Denmark’s Lively Public Libraries” (Shinhyoron, 2010), and “Swedish Public Libraries that Support Reading” (Shinhyoron, 2012). ), “Norwegian Libraries that Cultivate Culture” (Shin Hyoron, 2013), “Challenges of Dutch Public Libraries” (Shin Hyoron, 2018), and “Finnish Public Libraries” (Shin Hyoron, 2019). * ■Book summary*
* Book title: * Library of Latvia
*Author:*Yoko Yoshida
* List price: * 2,860 yen (tax included)
* Release date: * September 20, 2024
* Amazon * https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4798073830