An exhibition marking 500 years since the publication of the first book in the Latvian language opened this week at the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, as eng.lsm.lv reported.
The display, produced in cooperation with the National Library of Latvia, traces half a millennium of publishing history.
Connecting Five Centuries of Publishing to Modern Youth Literacy
National Library of Latvia Director Dagnija Baltiņa noted during the opening that young people read differently than older generations. According to Baltiņa, the library wants to achieve the development of reading habits among young people with the help of the upcoming reading strategy.
Reading is actually one of the most essential tools for thinking independently, freely, and actually innovatively.
Baltiņa said, adding that the native language allows for unique intellectual frameworks.
We see that the Latvian language also allows us to think thoughts that we cannot think in other languages. This is of enormous importance, and this is the tool that we can give to our young generation.
Historical Survival Through the Printed Word
The exhibition was brought to the European Parliament by MEP Sandra Kalniete (New Unity). Kalniete pointed to historical turning points where printed text acted as a shield for national identity.
If it weren't for the first publication in Latvian and the subsequent publications, including Gluck's translation of the Bible, then I don't know whether Latvians would have gained the self-confidence that was needed to create the prerequisites, the spiritual prerequisites, for Latvia to become an independent state in the second half of the 19th century.
Kalniete stated. She also detailed how the written word helped communities endure the Soviet occupation, following a Tsarist era marked by Russification policies that prohibited the Latvian language in some areas, such as Latgale.
Guarding Against Contemporary Censorship and Disinformation
While the exhibition celebrates historical milestones, speakers at the opening turned their attention to modern threats facing free expression. Participants stressed that the freedom to think, read, and write is one of the cornerstones of democracy that requires active defense against rising attempts to manipulate public opinion and restrict access to books.
European Parliament First Vice-President Sabine Verheyen warned that modern information ecosystems allow disinformation to outpace traditional journalism. Verheyen connected contemporary book bans in parts of the Western world directly to broader efforts to control public thought.
Today, information can travel the world in seconds. So can manipulation and disinformation. Lies can reach millions before journalists have had a chance to find out what really happened.
Verheyen said. She pointed to the European Media Freedom Act, which entered into force last year, as a legislative tool designed to shield authors and independent journalism from unjustified political interference.
