Regulations regarding the Number of Employees Necessary for the Work of a Library and the Education Necessary for Holding Positions

Issued pursuant to Section 25, Paragraph three
of the Law On Libraries

I. General Provisions

1. These Regulations prescribe the number of employees necessary for the operation of a library, as well as the positions which require a specific academic or professional education, or a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship, depending on the status, structure, scope of work and tasks of the library.

2. A qualified librarian is a person who works in a library and has obtained a specific academic or professional education or a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship.

II. Number of Employees Necessary for the Operation of a Library

3. The number of qualified librarians in an official State-level library, regional main library and official local-level library shall be determined in accordance with the by-law (articles of association) of the library, as well as by taking into account the number of printed publications and other documents issued to library users:

3.1. in an official State-level library - not fewer than one qualified librarian, if the average number of printed publications and other documents issued to users is 9 000 items per year (the number of issues in physical items);

3.2. in a regional main library - not fewer than one qualified librarian, if the average number of printed publications and other documents issued to users is 12 000 items per year; and

3.3. in an official local-level library - not fewer than one qualified librarian, if the average number of printed publications and other documents issued to users is 8 000 items per year.

4. The number of qualified librarians in a library of an educational institution (except a library of a higher education institution) shall be determined in accordance with the by-law (articles of association) of the library, as well as by taking into account the number of students and teachers in the relevant educational institution:

4.1. if there are up to 300 students and teachers in an educational institution, the library shall have at least one half of a qualified librarian staff unit;

4.2. if there are 301 to 500 students and teachers in an educational institution, the library shall have at least one qualified librarian staff unit;

4.3. if there are 501 to 800 students and teachers in an educational institution, the library shall have at least one and a half qualified librarian staff units;

4.4. if there are 801 to 1 200 students and teachers in an educational institution, the library shall have at least two qualified librarian staff units; and

4.5. if there are more than 1 200 students and teachers in an educational institution, the library shall have at least two and a half qualified librarian staff units.

5. The number of qualified librarians in a library of a higher education institution shall be determined in accordance with the by-law (articles of association) of the library, as well as by taking into account the number of students and teachers in the relevant higher education institution - not fewer than one qualified librarian per 200 students and teachers of the higher education institution.

6. A library shall enter into a contract with the relevant specialists for the maintenance of computer network and information systems, or, within the budget resources allocated to the library, shall provide for the following staff units:

6.1. computer network administrator (in an official State-level library, as well as in a regional main library - for the maintenance of the single information network of all libraries of the relevant region);

6.2. information system administrator (in an official State-level library, as well as in a regional main library - for the maintenance of the single information network of all libraries of the relevant region);

6.3. computer hardware engineer (in an official State-level library, regional main library and official local-level library); and

6.4. programmer (in an official State-level library, regional main library - for the maintenance of the single information network of all libraries of the relevant region).

III. Positions of Library Employees the Holding of which Requires Specific Education or a Certificate for the Completion of a Continuing Education Course in the Field of Librarianship

7. The positions of employees of an official State-level library for the holding of which specific education or a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship is required shall be the following:

7.1. deputy of the head (director) of the library - higher academic or higher professional education in the field of librarianship;

7.2. head of the operating activities division - higher academic, higher professional education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship; and

7.3. chief librarian, chief bibliographer, librarian and bibliographer - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary, secondary education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship.

8. The positions of employees of a regional main library for the holding of which specific education or a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship is required shall be the following:

8.1. deputy of the head (director) of the library - higher academic, higher professional or specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship;

8.2. head of the operating activities division - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship; and

8.3. chief librarian, chief bibliographer, librarian and bibliographer - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary, secondary education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship

9. The positions of employees of an official local-level library for the holding of which specific education or a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship is required shall be the following:

9.1. deputy of the head (director) of the library - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship;

9.2. head of the operating activities division - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional education, specialised secondary, secondary education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship; and

9.3. chief librarian, chief bibliographer, librarian and bibliographer - higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary education in the field of librarianship or higher academic, higher professional, specialised secondary, secondary education and a certificate for the completion of a continuing education course in the field of librarianship.

IV. Closing Provision

10. Paragraphs 7, 8 and 9 of these Regulations shall come into force on 1 January 2005.

Prime Minister A. Bērziņš

Minister for Culture K. Pētersone

Translation © 2006 Tulkošanas un terminoloģijas centrs (Translation and Terminology Centre)