Enhancing accessibility to historical research

With reference to the article entitled "Accessibility of Historical Research" (The Sunday Times, March 11) and especially regarding Government School log-books and related archival records, I would like to make the following clarification.

The National Archives Act (2005) clearly states that all records created by entities in which the Government has effective control are, by definition, public records. Following an appraisal process, material worthy of permanent preservation has to be deposited at the National Archives.

The National Archives Act (1990) clearly indicated that the only depository of documents of a public nature which are no longer in use for the purpose of administration is the National Archives (Sections 2 and 4). This was further confirmed by the National Archives Act (2005). This is the only institution vested by the Maltese Parliament to preserve and provide access to these public records.

The National Archives started the process of collecting school log-books and other archival material from schools in 1990. It already has in its possession 536 volumes originating from schools. It is not only the log-books that are of historical importance, but also attendance registers, correspondence, photographs, and minutes of internal meetings.

These records are already available for research at the National Archives in Rabat and, for Gozo records, at the National Archives Gozo section in Victoria, Gozo. In the past years, there were several University students who based their BA (Hons) and B.Educ. dissertations on the Gozo records.

The National Archives is currently holding discussions with the Education Division on the continuation of the process of accession of school records and it is its intention to see that all records of historical importance currently held in state schools are collected, preserved, and made accessible.

It must however be noted that since school records contain a good amount of personal data, the consultation of these particular records are governed also by the Data Protection Act.

The National Archives extends its invitation to the Malta Historical Society to inspect the upkeep of school records already in its possession and looks forward to a fruitful collaboration between the two institutions.