Bauska municipality to close Rosme library in Iecava parish
The Bauska municipal council has decided to shut down the Rosme library in Iecava parish after the building's owner terminated the lease and no alternative premises could be found. Residents will still receive books through deliveries from the Iecava library.
Councillors of the Bauska municipality have decided to liquidate the Rosme library, located in Iecava parish, according to information confirmed to the local outlet „Bauskas Dzīve” by the municipal council.
The decision stems from a dispute over premises. The owner of the building housing the library has given notice that the current arrangement will end on September 1, 2026, and the municipality has been unable to find another suitable space in the village of Rosme to keep the library running.
Low usage figures
Councillors also pointed to relatively low attendance as a factor in the decision. In 2025, the library had 86 registered users, recorded 616 visits, and issued 1,916 items — figures the municipality says point to weak demand for the service.
The municipality informed the Library Council of Latvia about the planned closure, and the council issued a favorable opinion supporting the decision.
Services to continue in a different form
Despite the closure, the municipality says residents of Rosme will not be left without access to books. The Edvarts Virza Iecava Library, working with the local administration, will deliver pre-ordered publications to Rosme once or twice a month. Meanwhile, the Bauska Central Library will oversee the transfer of the closed library's book collection to other libraries within the municipality.
The future of the Rosme library has been a recurring topic for years. Back in 2020, while preparing the 2021 budget, the then-head of the Iecava municipal council named preserving the library as one of three priorities for Rosme, alongside road paving and water system improvements. Six years later, the library could not be saved.
