Lithuanian Librarians' Association - International Relations

The Lithuanian Librarians’ Association was founded in 1931. This happened very late in comparison with other countries, including Latvia and Estonia where the professional associations emerged in 1923.

The strong impulse to establish a national association came from the First Congress of Baltic librarians (12-14 October 1930) in Riga.

The financial difficulties did not let the LLA to maintain rewarding international relations before the War. The highlights for the Baltic librarians then were three Congresses of the Baltic librarians. The above maintained First Congress in Riga (1930), the Second in Tallinn and Tartu (1935) and the Third in Kaunas (1938).

All international relations were stopped in 1940.

During Soviet rule the Lithuanian librarians established relations with colleagues from other Soviet republics.

The relations with international organisations were monopolised by the All-Union Council of Libraries in Moscow. This Council was created as a substitute for a library association which could be accepted on the international level and became a member of IFLA.

The situation has changed completely at the beginning of the 90’s. The Baltic States were the focus of international attention.

IFLA restored the membership of the LLA on 1 January 1990.

At present time the LLA co-operates closely with other Baltic States. Three associations continue the organisation of Congresses of Baltic librarians. The Fourth Congress took place in Riga in 1991, the Fifth - in Tallinn in 1996. The Sixth is announced to be held in Vilnius in 2001.

The Baltic librarians have close contacts with the Northern European countries. Two Meetings of Nordic-Baltic librarians were organised (1993 in Jurmala, Latvia and 1997 in Birstonas, Lithuania). Nordic colleagues are supporting the development of the public libraries, study visits for Lithuanian librarians.

The Regional Library Programme and the Open Society Fund-Lithuania provide opportunities to the LLA and Lithuanian librarians to implement some joint projects, to organise conferences and seminars and take part in some of those going on in other countries.

International agreements of co-operation is a good possibility to extend the professional experience. The agreement with The Library Association (Great Britain) was signed in 1996 by President of the LLA Emilija Banionyte and Vicepresident of the LA Philip Gill (photograph 27 KB).

In the same year the agreement with the Russian Library Association was sighed. Russian librarians are frequent guests in the major events of the LLA (more).

The LLA regards its priorities in foreign relations as being those that would be important to our partners as well as to ourselves. Such priorities, co-operations for common goals, and resource sharing can help Lithuanian librarians to resolve their doubts about the future and increase belirf in their professional strength.