Discussions about building a new library in Latvia started in 1927. Back then the government decided to build the Freedom Monument instead of a national library. Now it is time for the library, say proponents.
Prime Minister Andris Skele announced at the news conference on March 15th that a surcharge on electricity is the only way to finance the construction of the library and that everybody should pay for it. Otherwise, the unique project is impractical, according to Jurgis Liepnieks, Skele's spokesman.
The unique National Library project is going to cost about 87.4 million lats. Breakdown of the proposed costs is: information technology, 3.4 million lats, land, 4.8 million lats. The construction itself will cost 68.2 million lats plus a VAT of 79.4 million lats.
Last year on Nov.12, UNESCO General Assembly unanimously approved the project and agreed to cover 30 percent of the costs by giving donations. Seventy percent of the money Latvia has to find itself.
The draft law on the library construction endorsed by the government envisages that each electricity consumer would donate funds 0.001 lat per kilowatt hour for the library construction.
The biggest payer in this project will be industry, at 51 percent. The residents individually will pay 20 percent of the construction costs. Transport and communication companies will pay 8 percent and agriculture only 2 percent.
Liepkalns said that "in this way, after 12 years the society of Latvia will have paid of the costs of the National Library and that would give the government the guaratee in advance to be able to provide all the money needed, and the project can be finished in 3 to 4 years."
Latvia is one of the last European states where the national library materials are not gathered in one building. Latvia's collection of 5 million items distributed among eight various buildings in the capital.
Latvia has been working on this project already for more than 10 years, with an increase in readers at libraries from 20 000 to almost 43 000 a year.
Library staff believes that the new library is a big necessity.
"At the moment we have 300 places for readers in all buildings together, but the number of readers we have is much bigger - 1,200 readers a day. Sometimes we have to turn people away, because we do not have enough space here."
The new building has been designed by the world famous Latvian architect Gunars Birkerts. Metaphors and allegories are in the heart of every Latvian and easily recognized and understood by them. Therefore Birkert decided to work with metaphors and references taken from the most significant fables and poetry found in Latvian literature.
"The folk tale of the Crystal Mountain, in which the hero struggles to ride up the mountain to awaken a sleeping princess at the top, is an allegory for the country's determined fight for freedom. The symbolic Castle of Light, as the fable says, sank during the bloody days of enslavement. The castle will rise from the depths and free the people when its name is invoken by courageous men," says a promotional brochure.
When Latvian people see the library mountain form, covered with the glass skin, they recognize the symbol immediately. For them this is kind of building which elevates and protects their literary history. The new National Library will have 1,200 places for readers, provide accommodation for 5 million books and the space will allow for growth of up to 8 million volumes. It's sources will be available to all schools, libraries and other public places. It means that everybody who would like to find out information or order the books will be able to do from any town of Latvia via electronic network.
Although everybody understands how big necessity is the library, the government's decision about the target payment to support the construction of the National Library has raised broad reaction in society.
"Skele said that this the only possible model, but we think that this is the first real one." said Arvils Aseradens chairmen of the Latvian National Library support fund.
Deputies of both the local authorities and the Parliament, as well as business people and intelligentsia, have expressed objections to the target payment.
"Latvia needs a library, but does Latvia really need such a complicated project? If does, then the money should be found in the budget" said Raita Karnite, head of the Latvian Economic Institute.
The largest electric power consumer in Latvia, "Liepajas Metalurgs," agreed to pay the target payment after the Prime Minister's visit to Liepaja.
"If the government is going to review electricity tariff policy, we will support it. At the moment the tariff policy is not favorable to our company." said Laila Millere, spokeswoman at Liepajas Metalurgs.
Karnite doesn't agree with the government's decision, taken without public input.
"The government just said - everybody will take part in construction of the library, but the question is - has anyone asked the residents if they want it?"
Latvian National Library support fund is going to hold three conferences int the next month. The first conference is expected to discuss solutions for the library construction financing. The second conference will discuss the transparency of the project, and the third one will be devoted to functions and maintenance of the new library.
Architect Nita Apsite, who is working on the National Library project, believes that the construction of the library has to be finished by 2004. Otherwise the project is going to be even more expensive than current projections.
"Long term constructions are very expensive, every year construction gets more and more expensive, four to five percent a year," said Apsite.
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