John XXIII Library

This year marks the 45th anniversary since the foundation of the John XXIII Library run by the Jesuit Fathers at Xavier House, 226 St Paul Street, Valletta (2124 3681).

What started as a small collection of books for the use of the local Jesuit community, the library soon became considerably enlarged and began to be open to the public under the direction of Fr Anthony Sapienza S J who had just returned from the USA where he had obtained a higher degree in library science.

Today the library is endowed with about 25,000 books, dealing mostly with the various branches of theology, philosophy, Holy Scripture, as well as publications on spirituality, history, bioethics and the arts. A valuable asset for general information and scholarly research is also to be found in the various dictionaries and encyclopedias, especially in the 18 volumes of The New Catholic Encyclopedia. The use of a Xerox printing machine is also available on the premises.

The library also places at the disposal of its users some of the best weekly or monthly periodicals, such as The Tablet, America, Theological Studies, Concilium, Civilta' Cattolica, Gregorianum, Theology Digest, Studia Moralia, Nouvelle Revue Theologique and others. The latest issue of the Catholic Herald and the weekly English edition of the Osservatore Romano are also available for consultation. Everyone interested in reading any of these publications within the precincts of the library is welcome, and so are those wishing to consult any of our books for research or personal interest. Those who wish to borrow our books and take them out of the precincts of the library will be kindly requested to pay a yearly subscription fee of €10, valid for a year.

John XXIII Library is open four times a week: from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. It is worth a visit and one can make use of the facilities being offered to students and other readers.