After World War II, the German-Latvian bibliophile Otto Bong (1918–2006) meticulously and consistently formed one of the largest and most diverse collections of printed works connected to the Baltic countries (since 1951, known as the Baltic Central Library) in West-Germany.
Otto Bong’s collection – books, pictures, manuscripts, and other documents – reflects the cultural, political, and economic history of the Baltic region. The collection includes many books from public and private libraries that once existed in Latvia and Estonia or belonged to Baltic-related personalities. Various important and, in some cases, unique materials have joined Bong’s collection as gifts, purchases at auctions and retail markets. Among the displays, materials related to architect Reinhold Gulek, historian Carl von Lee of Menar, journalist and public figure Paul Shanman, and linguist Georg Gerer were showcased in the exhibition.
ClientNational Library of LatviaLinkwww.lnb.lvCuratorViesturs ZandersDesignerIlze Kalnbērziņa-PrāProducerAnda BolužaFotoJevgenijs Sisojevs