Highlighting Local Heritage: Digital Collections and Virtual Exhibitions in Latvian Public Libraries

The study examines the digitization processes of local cultural documents in Latvian public libraries, as well as practices for highlighting local history through digital collections and virtual exhibitions. The study is based on an analysis of annual reports of public libraries, a survey of library staff and interviews. It is concluded that although the overall pace of digitization of local history documents is still relatively modest, Latvian public libraries have increased their digitization efforts. Publicly accessible, interactive digital collections and virtual exhibitions are being created to promote cultural heritage. The recent launch of the integration of the digital collections of the public libraries into a single platform - the Digital Library of the National Library of Latvia - is of crucial importance for sustainable preservation and accessibility.