The National Library of Latvia is a universal scientific library founded in 29th of August 1919. NLL is under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture as national value. The first director Library was the founder of Latvian BCi-bibliography Janis Misins. Currently NLL consists of 7 library buildings all over the city and holds 4.1 million books and other publications in more than 50 different languages.
One of the characteristic cornerstones of the NLL, as a national library, is a collection and formation of Latvian national literature, lifelong storage and access to that information. These days the NLL is also the largest analysis library in Latvia, establishing collections of data resources, and providing data to numerous national programs. Its mission is to facilitate ongoing process of the intellectual skills development of the Latvian population, and acting as the centre of library system in Latvia.
After years of debate on the May 15, 2008 it was finally agreed on the construction of the new National Library of Latvia on the left bank of Daugava river on the Mūkusalas street 3. The project was completed by 2014 when Riga held title of the European Capital of Culture.