In Memoriam: Andris Vilks (1957-2025)

In Memoriam for Andris Vilks (1957-2025), Member of the Executive Board of LIBER 2013-2019.

It is with great sadness that we at LIBER share the recent passing of Andris Vilks. As the long-standing Director of the National Library of Latvia and President of Bibliotheca Baltica, Mr. Vilks was a well-respected and highly appreciated board member from 2013 to 2019. He brought his profound experience, dedication, and wide expertise of libraries to the LIBER Board as an active member of LIBER.

Secretary-General Emerita LIBER Ann Matheson remembers Andris Vilks fondly in the Album Amicorum on the occasion of his retirement from the Latvian National Library in 2024:

I recall how keen you [Mr. Vilks] always were to see progress made for all libraries in Europe and how you actively worked in LIBER on steps to help more libraries from central and Eastern Europe join LIBER as members.

An absolute highlight for both LIBER members and the National Library of Latvia was the hosting of the LIBER Annual Conference in the fabulous new library building in Riga in 2014. The building had just opened earlier that year, and the crowd of over 450 librarians were among the first visitors to admire this ‘Castle of Light’. It was and is a tribute to Andris Vilks and a beacon for us, colleagues, for the importance of libraries in modern society.

We are very honoured to have known Andris Vilks as our colleague and friend in the LIBER community and remember him with the utmost respect.

Julien Roche

President of LIBER