CONFERENCEAnnex APPROVED with UL Order No. 1-4/139 of 27.03.2025.
REGULATION of the Library of the University of Latvia
Enters into force on 01.05.2025.
Issued in compliance with Constitution of the University of Latvia, Section 35
I. General provisions
1. The Library of the University of Latvia (hereinafter – LUL) is a University of Latvia (hereinafter – UL) institution that provides support for the UL study process and scientific activity by accumulating physical and digital information resources, promoting the use of information services and providing these services, as well as preserving the part of the national library collection under its responsibility. LUL is an accredited official State-level public library, registered in the Library Register of the Republic of Latvia Ministry of Culture.
2. Full name of LUL:
2.1. in Latvian – Latvijas Universitātes bibliotēka;
2.1. in English – University of Latvia Library;
2.3. in German – Bibliothek der Universität Lettlands;
2.4. in French – Bibliothèque de l’Université de Lettonie.
3. Abbreviated name of LUL – LUB.
4. Financial resources of LUL are included in the UL budget as an independent item thereof.
5. LUL collection and assets are the property of UL.
6. LUL in its operation complies with the regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia and the University of Latvia.
7. LUL uses LUL insignia, forms and seals in accordance with the procedures specified in regulatory enactments.
8. The location of LUL is determined by the UL Rector.
II. Objectives and tasks of the Library
9. The objective of LUL operation is to provide UL with information resources and services that, in accordance with the capabilities of digital technologies, are promptly and conveniently accessible to every LUL user, including:
9.1. to develop the information resources necessary for the study process and scientific activity of UL, by compiling a current and high-quality physical and digital collection and online information resources that meet the needs of students and academic staff, and to ensure their availability to LUL users;
9.2. to accumulate information resources of historical cultural heritage value – printed works published in Latvia, in the Latvian language and about Latvia and Latvians, incunabula, rare books, manuscripts and other values of cultural heritage, to ensure their preservation and accessibility and to promote the research thereof;
9.3. develop, as well as provide information and research support services that meet user needs and improve the information literacy and scientific literacy of LUL users;
9.4. within its remit, to provide support to the study and scientific activity of UL.
10. The functions, general principles of operation, rights and obligations of the LUL are determined by the Library Law, the Legal Deposit Law and other regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia and the University of Latvia that pertain to the operation areas of LUL.
11. The main tasks of LUL operation are the following:
11.1. to develop and manage a set of information resources that corresponds to the priorities of the UL study and scientific activity directions, by compiling physical and digital collections and ensuring the use of online information resources, research datasets and other digital information resources and tools;
11.2. to develop and manage the information resources of historical cultural heritage, including the Misiņš Library, the Library of Rare Editions and Manuscripts “Bibliotheca Rigensis” and collections pertaining to operation of UL;
11.3. to produce LUL bibliographic data and ensure their public accessibility;
11.4. to ensure the physical preservation of the LUL collection, including by planning and implementing the restoration and digitization of the collection;
11.5. to provide services to LUL users in accordance with the procedures set out in the Regulations for the Use of LUL;
11.6. in accordance with the procedures set out in the Regulations for the Use of LUL, to provide LUL users with access to online information resources and ensure the use of other information resources and tools necessary for educational and scientific processes;
11.7. to develop the information acquisition, use and publication skills of UL students, as well as academic and general staff by planning and implementing information literacy and scientific literacy improvement measures;
11.8. to implement public communication of LUL information resources and services, including by organizing exhibitions and public events, creating information materials, as well as implementing marketing and public relations activities;
11.9.to develop digital information resources, including databases and digital collections to promote the use of the LUL physical collection and to advance their integration into other Latvian and global digital information resources;
11.10. participate in the accumulation and systematization of information about the results of the UL study process and scientific activity – publications, dissertations defended at UL, final theses, etc. – and in accordance with the regulatory framework of UL, ensure access to them, including by promoting their integration into other Latvian and global digital information resources;
11.11. to develop an appropriate physical infrastructure for the provision of client-oriented services and ensuring optimal conditions for the preservation of the collection;
11.12. within its remit, to participate in the study process and scientific activity of UL, including by creating and teaching study courses and individual classes, providing research support services and implementing projects;
11.13. within its remit, to organize cooperation with other UL institutions and cooperation partners in Latvia and abroad for the implementation of the operational tasks of UL;
11.14. within its remit, to implement methodological and advisory work in the library sector.
III. Library staff, governance and structure
12. LUL is headed by a director (hereinafter – the Director), who is appointed to the position in accordance with the procedure established in the UL Constitution. An open competition is organized for the position of Director. The employment contract with the Director is concluded by the Vice-Rector for Research.
13. The remit of the Director includes:
13.1. planning, management and coordination of the operation and development of LUL, making decisions and controlling their implementation;
13.2. implementing the administrative and economic activities of LUL;
13.3. ensuring and bearing responsibility for the rational use of material and financial resources at the disposal of LUL;
13.4. determining the distribution of staff duties, controlling the work of staff;
13.5. analysing and evaluation of the achieved results;
13.6. ensuring and controlling the implementation of decisions of the UL management institutions;
13.7. coordinating the cooperation of LUL and other UL institutions;
13.8. no less frequently than once a year to provide a report on the operation of LUL to the LUL Council.
14. The Director, within their remit, without a specific authorisation, is entitled to represent LUL in other institutions.
15. In the absence of the Director (temporary work disability, leave, work-related travel, etc.), the duties of the Director are performed by the Deputy Director. The duties of other employees of LUL during their absence are performed in accordance with instructions of the Director.
16. The Director may, in compliance with the procedure established by UL, propose the changes to the regulation and structure of LUL to a representative of UL management, and create new positions. The Director may propose changes to the structure of LUL in accordance with the directions of LUL operation, taking into account the available resources.
17. The Deputy Director and the Executive Director are appointed to the position upon the proposal of the Director. The employment contract with the Deputy Director is concluded by the Vice-Rector for Research. The employment contract with the Executive Director is concluded by the Head of the UL Administration.
18. LUL staff are engaged and remunerated in accordance with the regulatory enactments of UL.
19. LUL may create academic staff positions, to which researchers are elected by the respective UL scientific councils.
20. The LUL strategy, work plan, regulations for the use, price list of paid services and working hours are approved by the UL Rector or a person authorized by the Rector with the approval of the LUL Council.
21. The LUL Council is an advisory body that advises the UL management and the LUL Director on the operation and development of LUL.
22. The composition and operating rules of the LUL Council are determined by the order of UL Rector.
23. LUL structural units are:
23.1. Collection Management Department;
23.2. User Services Department;
23.3. Misiņš Library;
23.4. Library of Rare Editions and Manuscripts “Bibliotheca Rigensis”;
23.5. Digital Resources and Research Services Department;
23.6. Collection Preservation and Digitisation Department.
24. The objective of Collection Management Department is to develop the LUL collection necessary for the study process and scientific activity of UL and to ensure its accessibility and preservation, and its tasks are:
24.1. in cooperation with other LUL structural units, to acquire the LUL physical and digital collection to support the study process and scientific activity;
24.2. to carry out the organisation of LUL collection (systematisation, cataloguing, and bibliographic classification);
24.3. to plan and organize physical preservation measures of the LUL collection;
24.4. to ensure the description of the LUL collection in the electronic catalogue;
24.5. to ensure the recording of the LUL collection and the compilation of statistics;
24.6. to provide to the National Union Catalogue the required information about the LUL collection;
24.7. in cooperation with the User Services Department, regularly analyse the structure and use of the LUL collection, plan and implement its development measures.
25. User Services Department consists of LUL branch libraries, its objective is to provide information services to LUL users and has the following tasks:
25.1. to concentrate in the LUL branch libraries a current and high-quality collection that meets the requirements of students and academic staff, and to plan and organize measures for its preservation;
25.2. to provide the users of LUL branch libraries with library services, including the national interlibrary loan and the international interlibrary loan services;
25.3. to promote the use of online information resources available at LUL;
25.4. to inform and advise the users of LUL branch libraries about the information resources and services available in the branch libraries;
25.5. to participate in the implementation of the UL study process, including developing, planning, organizing and leading information literacy and scientific literacy improvement courses and classes to the users of LUL branch libraries;
25.6. in cooperation with UL institutions, subject experts and student self-governments to regularly assess the needs of the users of LUL branch libraries, the use of information resources and services, as well as the development thereof.
26. The objective of Misiņš Library is to build and manage the collection and services of the historic Misiņš Library, and it has the following tasks:
26.1. to develop, organize and store the Misiņš Library collection, including:
26.1.1. collection of printed publications published in Latvia in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Deposit Law;
26.1.2. collection of printed publications in Latvian language published outside Latvia, translations of works by Latvian authors into foreign languages, and printed publications about Latvia and Latvians;
26.1.3. documentary evidence about the life and legacy of eminent personalities in the fields of culture, education and science in Latvia;
26.2. provide library services to Misiņš Library users;
26.3. plan and organize physical preservation and digitization activities of Misiņš Library collections;
26.4. plan and organize the popularization of Misiņš Library collections and promote their use in the study process and scientific work.
261. The objective of the Library of Rare Editions and Manuscripts “Bibliotheca Rigensis” is to create and manage the collection and services of LUL incunabula, manuscripts, rare books and other cultural heritage values, and it has the following tasks:
261.1. to develop, organize and store the LUL collection of incunabula, manuscripts, rare books and other cultural heritage values, based on the collection of the Riga City Library (“Bibliotheca Rigensis”) established in 1524;
261.2. to provide library services to users of the “Bibliotheca Rigensis”;
261.3. to plan and organize physical preservation and digitization of the “Bibliotheca Rigensis” collections;
261.4. to plan and organize the popularization of the “Bibliotheca Rigensis” collections and promote their use in the study process and scientific work.
27. The objective of the Digital Resources and Research Services Department is to ensure access to online information resources necessary for the study process and scientific activity of UL and to provide support services to researchers of UL, and has the following tasks:
27.1. plan and organize access to online information resources, as well as other information resources and tools necessary for ensuring the study process and scientific activity, in accordance with the needs of students and academic staff;
27.2. in cooperation with UL institutions, subject experts, student self-governments, User Services Department, to regularly analyse the needs of UL users, the use of online information resources and plan their development;
27.3. inform and advise LUL users about available online information resources and their use;
27.4. plan and implement measures to improve the information literacy and scientific literacy of the UL academic staff, including developing information materials and organizing courses and classes;
27.5. develop and provide information and data retrieval, analysis and publication services to the UL academic staff;
27.6. participate in the accumulation and systematization of information about the results of the UL study process and scientific activity – publications, dissertations defended at UL, final theses, etc., and ensure access to them, including by promoting their integration into other Latvian and global digital information resources.
28. The objective of Collection Preservation and Digitisation Department is to ensure the preservation of the LUL physical collection, to carry out its digitization and to ensure the availability of the digitized collection, and it has the following tasks:
28.1. to implement preservation measures of the LUL physical collection, including binding and restoration;
28.2. to implement the digitization of the LUL physical collection, ensure the preservation of digital files and their accessibility.
IV. Sources, use and control of funding
29. The principles of the LUL financing are determined by the Library Law and Cabinet of Ministers regulation.
30. LUL has a right to determine the late fees to LUL users for failure to return printed publications when due, as well as evaluate losses, and receive compensation for printed publications which have been loaned to the library users and damaged, or not returned at all.
31. LUL funding sources are:
31.1. Part of the UL budget determined by the UL Council;
31.2. revenue from paid services provided by LUL;
31.3. donations and gifts;
31.4. project funds;
31.5. other sources of income provided for in regulatory enactments.
32. The Director of LUL is responsible for ensuring the operation of LUL within the established budget.
33. LUL financial resources are used in accordance with expenditure estimates approved in accordance with the established procedure of UL.
34. The use of financial resources at the disposal of LUL is controlled by the UL Administration.