Online petition for library at opera house site
Over 300 people have signed an online petition supporting a proposal for a modern library and a cultural centre in place of the Royal Opera House in Valletta.
In a meeting with a delegation from Alternattiva Demokratika, the Malta Library and Information Association (MaLIA) said their proposal was well-received, receiving support through the online petition and also a Facebook account.
MaLIA is proposing the building of a state-of-the-art public library to include a culture centre.
AD said it agrees with raising funds given to local libraries and upgrading recognition of the library and information profession.
AD chairman Arnold Cassola and spokesman Carmel Cacopardo said that a multi-purpose cultural centre is a feasible project for the opera house ruins.
They suggested that the proposal should be endorsed by other NGOs and a common approach taken in order to promote the idea with the authorities.
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Laurence Zerafa
Jan 20th 2009, 12:39
There's also a Facebook group at http://en-gb.facebook.com/group.php?gid=35633385778 (over 400 members here). This Facebook page includes pictures of several modern public libraries in Europe which are a joy to step into. Veritable palaces of knowledge and community centres, full of people at all times of the day, all week long, Sundays included in some cases.
MaLIA's aim is to have such standards for this library which will serve to stimulate the upgrading in all ways (collections, services ...) of other public libraries in Malta. To clarify matters, this proposed modern public library has a different function from, and is not in competition with the National Library near the Palace on Piazza Regina.
MaLIA is positive that a modern public library in such an accessible and prominent location (city gate area) will in no small way attract more of the general public to start using library collections and access and read information in all its formats, for personal and public benefit.
Libraries certainly should be a cornerstone in the Government's declared aim to make Malta a knowledge based society through a lifelong education process. Who else, but libraries, provides cost-effective information?
Laurence Zerafa
PRO MaLIA
www.malia-malta.org/
mario mifsud
Jan 20th 2009, 10:06
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/culturalcentre_valletta/index.html
Stefan Muscat
Jan 20th 2009, 09:25
I fully support such an initiative, however Times of Malta could have added a link to where people can sign such a petition.
Malta greatly requires a proper National Library where people in the search for knowledge can access all the information they need. I would go further, subscribing to online databases of all journals and papers available to World class universities and made them available free to all students and teachers. Also to help keep it viable and promote research in Malta make it available by an affordable subscription to private citizens and companies. This new library could also work on a millenium project of digitizing all the government archives! I can only dream of this though.