Līvāni Residents’ Declaration of Love for Their City—the Book “Līvāni Then and Now”
Published: 11.02.2019
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There was barely enough room in the Straume Hall of the Central Library of Līvāni Municipality—the opening of the book “Līvāni Then and Now” attracted many people. It was a special moment, as a publication of this scope and content about Līvāni is the first in the city’s history. The idea that a book about Līvāni was needed occurred several years ago to Ginta Kraukle, Deputy Chair of the Līvāni Municipality Council: “In my opinion, this is a book of love, because everyone involved in creating this book is from Līvāni, and therefore it has a completely different energy and a completely different attitude. In my opinion, you can feel it when you pick up the book.”
The book takes readers through a period spanning more than 1,000 years, allowing them to learn how Līvāni has developed over the years. The publication consists of three parts—the first is “Milestones in Līvāni’s History”. This section was written by Sandra Maskalāne. She knows where the beginnings of Līvāni can be found: “Approximately where Līvāni Secondary School No. 1 stands today is also the birthplace of Līvāni, because the first settlement of merchants and craftsmen was located there. This was at the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, accidental discoveries have shown that Līvāni was already an inhabited place in the Stone Age, so I wrote figuratively in the book that Līvāni is as old as the stones on the banks of the Dubna.”
The book’s second part, “Līvāni Then and Now”, captures various places in photographs as they looked in the past and as they appear today. The historical photographs come from the personal archives of Kārlis Bogdāns and Sandra Maskalāne, as well as from the collections of the Latgale Art and Craft Centre and the Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Arts, while the contemporary photographs were taken by Jānis Magdaļenoks, Ingmārs Zaļmežs, Baiba Buceniece and Jāzeps Brencis. While working on the book, its creators learned various interesting facts about Līvāni. For example, Kārlis Bogdāns can share a fact from the history of aviation: “At present, one ‘airBaltic’ aircraft bears the name ‘Līvāni’, and perhaps this is fitting, because on 26 August 1919, when the Red Army was still in Līvāni while Jēkabpils had already been liberated, the first air raids on Līvāni were carried out by the first aircraft of the Latvian Army. The first two Latvian aviation aircraft carried out their first combat mission in Līvāni and Jersika, and then flew back to Jēkabpils.”
From an ancient settlement of merchants and craftsmen, Līvāni has grown into a regional development centre with diverse educational opportunities, a vibrant cultural life, interesting attractions and established companies that carry the name of Līvāni around the world. Inese Magdaļenoka, the author of the book’s third part, “What to See in Līvāni”, describes what Līvāni is like today: “Līvāni is different, colourful and playful, and it is neither tiresome nor boring. In the past, when delegations of friends came to Līvāni, we took them to the Līvāni Glass Factory Museum and perhaps to a church or two. But now we have themed benches, the Kvartāls multifunctional youth centre, the Latgale Art and Craft Centre, a fountain and many other attractions. We have the Daugava! Watching the sunset over the Daugava is a new adventure that is more beautiful each time.”
The book’s creation was overseen by Indra Upeniece, Head of the Public Relations and External Communications Division of the Līvāni Municipality Council. She says that many people from Līvāni were involved in creating the book, helping with historical materials, sharing memories or simply offering good advice: “Today I feel very proud. If the process was complicated and difficult, today I feel very proud that the result is good.”
The book “Līvāni Then and Now” was created through cooperation between the Līvāni Municipality and the Jumava publishing house. The publication will be used as promotional material for Līvāni Municipality and will also be available at points of sale and in the libraries of Līvāni Municipality. The book’s authors themselves say that this publication is an expression of love for their city.
The video report can be viewed here> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHnsmUfco24
The book takes readers through a period spanning more than 1,000 years, allowing them to learn how Līvāni has developed over the years. The publication consists of three parts—the first is “Milestones in Līvāni’s History”. This section was written by Sandra Maskalāne. She knows where the beginnings of Līvāni can be found: “Approximately where Līvāni Secondary School No. 1 stands today is also the birthplace of Līvāni, because the first settlement of merchants and craftsmen was located there. This was at the beginning of the Middle Ages. However, accidental discoveries have shown that Līvāni was already an inhabited place in the Stone Age, so I wrote figuratively in the book that Līvāni is as old as the stones on the banks of the Dubna.”
The book’s second part, “Līvāni Then and Now”, captures various places in photographs as they looked in the past and as they appear today. The historical photographs come from the personal archives of Kārlis Bogdāns and Sandra Maskalāne, as well as from the collections of the Latgale Art and Craft Centre and the Preiļi Museum of History and Applied Arts, while the contemporary photographs were taken by Jānis Magdaļenoks, Ingmārs Zaļmežs, Baiba Buceniece and Jāzeps Brencis. While working on the book, its creators learned various interesting facts about Līvāni. For example, Kārlis Bogdāns can share a fact from the history of aviation: “At present, one ‘airBaltic’ aircraft bears the name ‘Līvāni’, and perhaps this is fitting, because on 26 August 1919, when the Red Army was still in Līvāni while Jēkabpils had already been liberated, the first air raids on Līvāni were carried out by the first aircraft of the Latvian Army. The first two Latvian aviation aircraft carried out their first combat mission in Līvāni and Jersika, and then flew back to Jēkabpils.”
From an ancient settlement of merchants and craftsmen, Līvāni has grown into a regional development centre with diverse educational opportunities, a vibrant cultural life, interesting attractions and established companies that carry the name of Līvāni around the world. Inese Magdaļenoka, the author of the book’s third part, “What to See in Līvāni”, describes what Līvāni is like today: “Līvāni is different, colourful and playful, and it is neither tiresome nor boring. In the past, when delegations of friends came to Līvāni, we took them to the Līvāni Glass Factory Museum and perhaps to a church or two. But now we have themed benches, the Kvartāls multifunctional youth centre, the Latgale Art and Craft Centre, a fountain and many other attractions. We have the Daugava! Watching the sunset over the Daugava is a new adventure that is more beautiful each time.”
The book’s creation was overseen by Indra Upeniece, Head of the Public Relations and External Communications Division of the Līvāni Municipality Council. She says that many people from Līvāni were involved in creating the book, helping with historical materials, sharing memories or simply offering good advice: “Today I feel very proud. If the process was complicated and difficult, today I feel very proud that the result is good.”
The book “Līvāni Then and Now” was created through cooperation between the Līvāni Municipality and the Jumava publishing house. The publication will be used as promotional material for Līvāni Municipality and will also be available at points of sale and in the libraries of Līvāni Municipality. The book’s authors themselves say that this publication is an expression of love for their city.
The video report can be viewed here> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHnsmUfco24
