News

In an effort to foster friendship and enhance knowledge about Jelgava and Latvia, the Jelgava City Library sent approximately 40 books of various genres, along with CDs and games, to its sister city Carmel in Indiana, USA, this May.

To introduce the residents of the sister city to Jelgava and Latvia in an engaging manner – through games, illustrations, stories, and music – books in English, as well as games and CDs featuring melodies characteristic of Latvia, were sent to Carmel. The donation includes a diverse selection of books – fiction, geography, history, culinary arts, and nature – that provide a rich visual journey through Latvia and Jelgava.

“This is the first book donation to any of Jelgava’s sister cities,” says Lāsma Zariņa, the head of Jelgava City Library. She hopes that the donation will serve as an inspiring and informative resource for local readers, allowing the residents of Carmel to get to know Jelgava and Latvia from afar.

The books sent to the USA are a token of gratitude for the donation received by Jelgava City Library from Carmel during last year’s Jelgava City Festival. At that time, the sister city gifted books about the history, culture, nature, architecture, landmarks, and daily life of Indiana and Carmel, providing insight into this state and city.

The Jānis Bisenieks Foundation helped deliver the donation to the USA.

It is worth mentioning that Jelgava received a similar book donation last year from its sister city Rueil-Malmaison in France. Books in French are available to Jelgava residents on a specially arranged shelf at the children’s and youth library “Zinītis” at Zemgales prospekts 7.