Baiba Īvāne

Chief Bibliographer, Salaspils County Library, Library Association of Latvia

Baiba Īvāne is the Chief Bibliographer of the Regional Library of Salaspils County. She previously served as a lecturer in the Department of Library Studies at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Latvia (2021–2023), and as the Head of the Information Department at Jelgava City Library (2016–2021). Her professional work centers on managing and developing local history collections, as well as coordinating local studies activities across the 37 libraries of the Pierīga region. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Baiba’s research and professional interests have increasingly focused on the theoretical and practical dimensions of decolonization within the context of public libraries.

Building Resilient Communities: The Role of Museums and Libraries in Advancing the SDGs (2 December) and (3 December) Latvian Public Libraries’ Approach to Collection Development Policies since 2022: Realities, Dilemmas, and Responses

Building Resilient Communities: The Role of Museums and Libraries in Advancing the SDGs (2 December)

In 2021, libraries and museums of the three Baltic States, together with the Latvian National Commission, initiated collaboration to strengthen the capacity of memory institutions in advancing Agenda 2030. The network expanded in 2022–2023 to include Moldova and Georgia, and in 2024–2025, Ukraine also joined. The initiative “Fostering Peaceful and Resilient Communities through Museums and Libraries” (UNESCO Participation Programme, 2024–2025) supports the sector in addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular focus on their social dimension. In 2025, a conference was held in Ukraine with the support of the Lviv Culture Hub. A complementary webinar series, led by Diana Walters and Henry McGhie, provided training for museum and library professionals on developing locally relevant peace-building initiatives. This presentation will outline the project’s main activities and reflect on achievements, challenges, and future directions, highlighting the role of libraries and museums in strengthening resilience and fostering peace in times of conflict.

Latvian Public Libraries’ Approach to Collection Development Policies since 2022: Realities, Dilemmas, and Responses (3 December)

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, libraries in the Baltic region have been confronted with difficult—and at times uncomfortable—questions. What is the role of librarians during wartime? Are we doing enough to strengthen social resilience? And can the principle of neutrality truly be maintained under such circumstances? One of the central issues in this context is the library collection development policy. In this presentation, I will explore how Latvian public libraries have approached collection development since 2022, focusing on themes such as the responsibility of libraries in conditions of information warfare, the decolonial perspective on library collections, and the psychological challenges faced by library staff working within divided communities.

Date and time: 2025-12-02, 16:20-16:40 (20 min) and 2025-12-03 09:50-10:20 (30min)

Hall: ALFA