Art Reading Room

A significant part of the Art Collection consists of a diverse collection of art literature, which is available both in the open-access reading room and in the Art Repository. It covers a wide range of publications on art history, theory and trends in contemporary art, including books on art movements and periods, painting, sculpture, applied arts, graphics, architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, design and photography, as well as artists' albums and other publications.

At the end of 2015, the National Library of Latvia received a significant donation – the personal professional library of the architect Gunārs Birkerts, the author of the National Library building. It was built over a period of half a century in parallel with the distinguished career of a creative architect in the United States.

Of particular value in this chamber-style architectural library are two original “Wassily” Chairs designed by modernist Marcel Breurer, a student and later teacher at the Bauhaus School of Architecture and Design, received as a gift along with the books.

There is a room available for group work in the Art Reading Room. To use the room, you must apply to the bibliographer on duty. The room can be reserved in advance by writing or calling the reading room.

The reading room has two sofas where you can comfortably read the literature available in the reading room, while enjoying a beautiful view of the Riga skyline.