The University of Latvia library at Kalpaka bulvāris 4 to close for renovation as of 17 March

The building of the library was constructed in neo-Gothic style in the 1870s as a residential building. It is a part of the ensemble of buildings of the Riga Boulevard Circle and is an architectural monument of state significance. Its design dated 1874 was developed by the first professional Latvian architect Jānis Frīdrihs Baumanis (1834-1891) by the order of Ludwig Wilhelm Kerkovius (1831-1904), a land-lord and large-scale trader, as well as an influential and respected citizen of Riga: he held the positions of the city councillor, mayor assistant, mayor and chairman of the Riga Picture Gallery. He also bore the title of an honorary citizen of Riga and was an initiator of the construction of the Riga Museum of Arts. The design of the library building is the earliest of the designs for the L. W. Kerkovius residential buildings available in the archives.

In 1940, Latvian State University took over the building and the same year the library opened in it. Unfortunately, despite such a long working period, no significant repairs were made to the building until 2012. In 2006 SIA “Arhitekta L.Šmita darbnīca” developed a design for the renovation of the building and the construction of an annexe to it.

During the period of the repair works, the services of the Central Library will be provided by 11 University branch libraries, and the active part of its book stock will be also available there. The University libraries at Raiņa bulvāris 19, Aspazijas bulvāris 5 and Visvalža iela 4a will be opened for the readers six days a week. The publications issued by the Central Library after 16 March can be returned to the Multi-Branch Library of Computer Science, Law and Theology (Raiņa bulvāris 19, room 203). Here the readers will also be able to receive the publications ordered in the depository of the UL Library. The changes in the location of the book stocks will be published in the general electronic catalogue, while additional information about services will be available by contacting the library consultants via e-mail info-bibl@lu.lv, phone 67034432 and Skype (LU Bibliotēkas konsultants).

Very soon the Library will gladly present its readers the newly renovated building rightfully considered an architectural jewel of Riga!

Translated by students of the professional study programme Translator of the University of Latvia.