Experience trip - for ideas and inspiration

Experience trip - for ideas and inspiration

Summer is coming to an end, vacation time will end and the new work season will soon begin. Gulbene district librarians went on a professional development trip to the newest and most modern libraries in Latvia - Ogre Central, Ulbroka and Talsi Main Libraries.

The Central Library of Ogre was nominated for the international award for the title Public Library of the Year 2022. When awarding the award, the architecture of the building, its creative solutions combined with modern technologies, the accessibility of the building and premises, and the connection with local culture were evaluated. The Ogre Central Library entered the top four, the other three libraries were from the USA, Denmark and Saudi Arabia. When designing the building, the historical construction of Ogre was taken into account, while creating a modern and comfortable place for modern people to read, spend free time and relax. The new building of Ogre Central Library opened its doors exactly one year ago - in August 2021. It is currently the largest passive public wooden structure building in Latvia. In principle, the building heats itself. Wood creates a feeling of warmth, and even the air smells of it. Visitors are welcomed here not only by friendly librarians, but also by Tomiņš - a robot controlled by artificial intelligence.

"Working in the new Ogre Central Library is the fulfillment of every librarian's dream," admitted Aija Bremšmite, chief librarian of the Ogre Central Library. In the first year since the opening of the library's new building, the number of readers of Ogre Central Library has increased by more than 1000 readers. The Central Library of Ogre also has a mobile library - the bibliobus, with the help of which it is possible to provide library services as close as possible to the residents' place of residence. Bibliobus has a total of 34 stops, covering a total of about 700 km per month.

Ulbroka's library is designed as a single family reading room, where rest areas alternate with group and individual workplaces. The reading room named after the poet Pēteras Brewer is special. The private collection includes 346 items: books, periodicals and spatial objects. Various regional research projects are implemented every year. We liked the visual design of the exhibition dedicated to P. Brüveris with QR codes, the line of the poet's heart rhythm, the literary walk with various tasks at the stops about the poet's poetic creation.

The building of Talsi's main library rises on Leču hill. In 1965, the hill was partially excavated and the "Kursa" department store was built, which was repaired and adapted for the needs of the library in 2019. There are several benches near the Talsu Main Library building that act as book exchange points or book hiders. In them, you can leave books that are no longer relevant for you and take an interesting one instead.

A wide range of technologies is available in the library: a scanner with which you can scan the necessary documents, photos, photo negatives, etc., binding and laminating equipment. It is possible to see and familiarize yourself with the 3D printer. It is possible to see it in action and participate in the creative workshops organized by the library. In the technology room, you can use the audio equipment - listen to music recordings on CD and vinyl. A sound library has been created with a collection of vinyl LPs and CDs. The children's department has a separate game room with a variety of board games, an interactive whiteboard, a drawing wall and a game console. The smallest readers have a reading corner where they can sort through the most beautiful fairy-tale books together with their parents.

Colleagues admitted that during the experience trip, they got an insight into the latest technologies in libraries, getting acquainted with the operation of self-service equipment in the central library of Ogre, with the large scanner in the regional studies reading room of the Talsu Main Library. During the test drive, we got confirmation that classic values ​​can be combined with a very modern solution. It was a trip to the future for us, we realized that we have to dare to set big plans, that dreams do come true!

 

 

Iveta Erica, manager of methodical work in Gulbene county library