“Power of unity in a changing world. Combined libraries: benefits and challenges”

1. Annual meeting ofComLib-Networl of Combined Libraries in Baltic and Nordic countriesSeptember 17th-19th 2008 “Power of unity in a changing world. Combined libraries: benefits and challenges”

2. February 1919 - City (Bachelor) park buildings become the seat of People's library and public reading room. • Children`s literature department was opened in 1951 . • Vidzeme University College Library was founded in 1996, at the same time with the institution.

3. The first step to the creation of an integrated library • In August - September, 1998 , the ViA Library and the Study and Reference Department of Valmiera (Central) Library moved to premises at Cēsu iela 4. Collections of both libraries were placed together; they were freely accessible to all users. The Queen of Norway, Sonja, was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the Library.

5. In 2000 , Vidzeme University College in cooperation with Valmiera Library and Valmiera City Council made political decision about the conception of a joint library and launched a project of reconstruction of the premises at Cēsu iela 4 with an aim to combine the resources of all Valmiera libraries and to create an integrated library.

7. In December, 2004 , the first stage of renovation work at Cēsu iela 4 began and the basement floor (library storage rooms, computer labs, staff room, café) was completed by September, 2005

8. Valmiera library Vidzeme University college Children`s department VALMIERA JOINT LIBRARY

9. 2007 – Valmiera integrated library building renovation is completed and the opening ceremony takes place on November 13, 2007.

11. Budgeting

12. Valmiera library is the methodic and consulting centre for Valmiera district municipal public libraries. • Valmiera library cataloguing and processing department provides services for all 28 municipal libraries of Valmiera district, creating joint electronic catalogue.

14. Facts about library • Architect: Laimonis Šmits • Population Valmiera 27`495 Valmiera district 59`276 VUC students 1`400 Number of visitors (per day) ~450 Staff: 25+6

15. Policy of acquisition • VUC library provides materials for academic and scientific process of VUC • Collection (items) 19`461 • Valmiera library – fulfils the needs of citizens of Valmiera of different age and interest groups in the best possible way. • Collection (items) 70`656

17. Web page • We have 2 main target groups and each group uses different web page • VUC students, staff, lecturers prefer www.va.lv section about library . • Citizens mainly visit www.biblioteka.valmiera.lv • Both webpages are linked with each other

18. User trainings • VUC offer information literacy tranings for all first year students. • Valmiera library – offered individual trainings for each customer but now acording to Bill&Melinda Gates foundation project will be established training courses for various user groups.

20. In common • Union electronic catalogue ALISE 4i • Unit subscriber service • Equal rules for all subscribers

21. Together • All premises available for every VIB employer • Together we celebrate anniversaries, achievments, traditional events • Trainings, competence development courses, excursions

23. Collaboration • Children`s department improving the teamwork with the pre-school children • VUC students’ “Story Tuesdays”, • Photo exhibitions • Poetry days • other events

25. Nordic library week • Scince 1998. Valmiera library children`s department and municipal libraries take a part in activieties of the project “Nordic library week in Latvia”. Libraries promote nordic authors – read books aloud, make excibitions and realize other creative ideas (Night with H.K.Andersen). • Moto of this year - “In loving Nordic .“

26. New challenge To operate as a family library with a range of offers to all citizens