Over 800 people form human chain to move Bauska library's book collection to new home
On Friday, September 18, more than 800 residents of Bauska formed a hand-to-hand chain to carry the first 200 books to the Central Library's new home in a renovated building on Uzvaras Street. The library's official opening is planned for November.
More than 800 residents of Bauska took part in an unusual event on Friday, September 18, forming a human chain to pass the first 200 books hand-to-hand into the Bauska Central Library's new home in a renovated building on Uzvaras Street.
Most participants were students from local schools, including Bauska State Gymnasium, Bauska Secondary School, Bauska Primary School and Griķi Primary School, along with children from the "Pasaulīte" kindergarten. Staff from the Children and Youth Center and the Tourism Information Center, members of the European dance group "Vēlreiz," and several former library employees also joined or came to watch.
A symbolic first book
Library director Māra Kuļikauska opened the event by carrying the first book from the Culture Center toward Uzvaras Street. The chosen title was "Bauska," a 2018 collection of facts and data by Raitis Ābelnieks and Aigars Urtāns. Kuļikauska noted that this year's tradition of hosting a Book Festival was replaced by the journey to the library's new home, thanking everyone who came to help.
The selection of books for the chain was carefully curated, featuring publications connected to Bauska, works by Latvian authors, and poetry collections, timed to coincide with Poetry Days held in September. The final book passed along the chain was the richly illustrated "Bauska Through the Eyes of Painters and Graphic Artists," published in 2023 by the "Meistars Gothards" association.
Temporary arrangements for readers
Starting September 21, the library will lend a limited selection of books to readers on weekday afternoons from the first floor of the Bauska Culture Center. During the move, the book locker service will be suspended, though readers can still return finished books via the book drop box on Dārza Street. The Children's Library will relocate to the new building alongside the Central Library. The new library's official opening is planned for November, the month of Latvia's national holidays.
