On 23 October 2026, from 12 noon to 3 pm, a regional seminar entitled “Preserving Historic Books” will take place in the Grunta Hall at Liepāja Central Scientific Library. The seminar is part of the programme of events organised within Found in the Old Library, a project under the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme.
The seminar is aimed at professionals working in libraries, archives and museums whose work involves collection processing, preservation and storage. Participants will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the importance of preventive conservation for books and other paper-based objects, enhance their knowledge of documentary heritage preservation, and gain insight into the specialist work of a conservator-restorer.
The seminar will be led by Ārija Ubarste, a senior paper conservator-restorer with extensive experience in the conservation and restoration of a wide range of paper-based objects, including documents, books, photographs and prints.
Although the seminar will focus primarily on the preventive conservation of historic and rare books, it will also be of interest to a wider audience. It will provide an opportunity to develop professional knowledge of the storage and preservation of books and other paper-based objects, and to gain a better understanding of how environmental conditions, as well as human decisions and actions, can affect their condition and longevity.
The seminar will last approximately three hours.
Those wishing to attend are invited to register by 20 October by completing the registration form.
The library project “Found in the Old Library” is implemented as part of the Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027 programme, with funding provided by Liepāja State City Municipality, South Kurzeme Municipality, Kuldīga Municipality and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia. The Liepāja 2027 programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS CleanR Grupa; its main partner in air mobility and international communication, AS Air Baltic Corporation; its legal partner, SIA Sorainen ZAB; its land mobility partner, SIA Lux Express Latvia; and its water transport mobility and international communication partner, SIA Stena Line. Media partners: VSIA Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs, SIA Žurnāls Santa, SIA TVNET GRUPA and AS Kurzemes Radio.
As part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the international forum “Historic Gardens and Gardens in Historic Environments” will take place at Kuldīga Art House on 2 October 2026, from 10.00 to 17.30.
On 10 September, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, the Fourth Kurzeme Culture Forum “Cultural Growth: People” took place at Kazdanga Parish Culture Centre, bringing together around 200 representatives of the cultural sector and other interested participants.
Under the theme “Cultural Growth: People”, the fourth Kurzeme Culture Forum will take place on 10 September at the Kazdanga Parish Cultural Centre as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme. The event will bring together cultural professionals, enthusiasts and everyone interested in the development of culture.