Caption: Detail of illustration by Leila Snēbaha, 10 years old.* See her full illustration below.
A few months ago I was asked to take part in a project to commemorate Andris Vilks career and retirement as the Director of the National Library of Latvia. It was to be in the shape of an
album amicorum, as the genre was known during its heyday in the 16th to the 19th centuries. A friends book consists
of inscriptions, signatures, and sometimes even drawings from a person's friends.
I was inspired and delighted to take part. The bound Friends book was presented to Andris on August 26, 2024. A pdf version of the book can be found
here.
Here's my contribution to the
Liber Amicarum et Amicorum in Honour of Andris Vilks:
I recall my first one-on-one meeting with Andris Vilks.
It was during the snowy winter of 2011 at the old National Library building on K. Barona.
Due to the ongoing financial crisis, the building was dark, most lights were off. The heat was barely enough to prevent the water pipes from freezing.
We conversed in his dark office; the wintry light coming through the windows.
What a contrast to today's Castle of Light the new National Library!
Since that first visit, I've interviewed Andris several times about his leadership and how he overcomes obstacles and inspires others. In his younger days, when he was the captain of his basketball team he realized:
I never like losing, and
I never give up.
Now he captains a team of 400.
At the new building's grand opening in August of 2014, Gunnar Birkerts, the architect, likened Andris to a lion! Mr. Birkerts was saluting Andris' leonine courage and unwavering stamina in overcoming resistance.
In 2016, in the new building, I asked Andris,
What's next? My question assumed his monumental task was done and now it was time to leisurely follow his many scholarly pursuits.
No, he told me, there was much, much more to do.
The building is only the
skin. Now the focus is on what goes on inside. He shared with me a Herculean
to do list, many of which have been achieved or are in good progress.
Indeed, the castle of light is a beehive of activity.
A beacon of sweet enlightenment.
Caption: Full illustration. Leila is the daugher of Alise Snēbaha who designed my book,
Fables for Leaders (illustrated by Beatrice Coron).
Clearly, Leila already shares several of her mother's artistic abilities.
Bee keeping and honey are among Latvia's defining national attributes.
John's books can be ordered via these links:
Fables for Leaders
&
Leading from the Middle
Copyright all text by John Lubans 2024
John Lubans - portrait by WSJ