The purpose of the Law on Libraries (1998) is to specify public relationships in the field of libraries, in order to ensure the operation of libraries and to facilitate the preservation and development of Latvia’s cultural heritage. This law applies to all libraries, which directly or indirectly receive funds from the State budget and local government budgets or State budget or local governments budgets, as well as to registered private libraries.
The Law on the National Library of Latvia was adopted in 1992 and came into force in 1993. The National Library of Latvia is a public universal academic library, which serves the intellectual development of the whole nation. The Law states that the National Library of Latvia shall be the State cultural institution of national significance under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. The National Library of Latvia is keeper of all printed publications of the Republic of Latvia, creator of national bibliographic resources and the development centre of the State library system. For the purpose of the construction of the new building of the National Library, a special law was adopted in 2003 (Law on the Realisation of the National Library).
The Legal Deposit Law (2006) ensures the permanent preservation, processing and public use of the national cultural heritage – all the printed publications, unconventional or “grey literature”, electronic publications and online publications of Latvia.
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