Library wanted in proposed Piano Valletta projects

Keith D. Azzopardi

Jul 6th 2009, 23:53

@ Eric Gahn
That's the whole point Eric Gahn. We need a better library to increase interest in books here in Malta...

Raymond Sammut

Jul 2nd 2009, 17:20

@ M Bezzina The Biblioteka is not a community library as it used to be before the community library was established at Belt-is Sebh in 1974. So far as I know, after 1974, the Biblioteka became solely a National Library where material can only be referenced (photo copied if necessary) on site with the assistance of staff. A community library, on the other hand, would normally allow for books to be borrowed along with other technology-based resources. For this reason, it would be ideal to have the two libraries in proximity, especially for those wishing to carry out research in specialised fields. If one could not find the required source at one library, they could easily walk to the other library to continue the search. The two libraries would be able to better coordinate their resources.

Eric Gahn

Jul 2nd 2009, 07:11

Why a library I ask? Libraries are for readers. Research after research after research show that the maltese simply do not read. I think this money would be better invested by having Piano design, say, the beautiful history of our small nation in hieroglyphs on the new City Gate.

adrian vella

Jul 1st 2009, 23:53

i agree

Ninette Zammit

Jul 1st 2009, 22:02

Yes, of course, a modern Public Library would be a wonderful idea. This would make books more accessible to people. I totally agree with having a library included in Renzo Piano's plans.

v.pulis

Jul 1st 2009, 21:52

But it seems that in this country where politics exude from every pore and orifice of our bodies a museum of political history is more important than a library or a contemporary art museum for that matter.

Claire Bonello

Jul 1st 2009, 21:39

A library in Valletta would be the best possible option. A far better idea than a museum about parliamentary history.

Ivan Vassallo

Jul 1st 2009, 21:25

The project could be worked out to include both the museum and the library, the Italian Senate and Paliament both have well equipped libraries open to both parliamentarians and citizens alike. Moreover a good Museum of political history is a worthy investment as there's a need to know the history and development of the democratic institutions in Malta and what moulded culture and politics in Malta.

M Bezzina

Jul 1st 2009, 21:13

Isn't the Biblioteka next to the current Parliament enough? Why have 2 public libraries in the same street? There are also a number of bookshops nearby.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Jul 1st 2009, 21:02

How about a sauna and a massage parlour too?

Mario Magro Conti

Jul 1st 2009, 20:35

My family supports a public library.

Emma Cordina

Jul 1st 2009, 20:32

A library would be a good idea

A Cassar

Jul 1st 2009, 20:15

Yes, instead of police station!!!!
In Piano's plans it is going to be demolished and left empty!

J. Schembri

Jul 1st 2009, 20:08

Let's support a just cause , a library is a must in that place . A library there will encourage our children to read more . A twelve year old can easily catch a bus to Valletta grab three books and return home without the danger of being harassed. The Beltissebh library is buried under the Floriana bastions and out of the way for the public.
Books are a necessity for education, without which there cannot be a good democracy .It can be symbolic if parliament were built on a public lending library.

Jake Micallef

Jul 1st 2009, 19:42

I think we need an Ice Skating Rink.
Actually no... let's go for a fully fledged shooting range. It's more fitting in Valletta.

Oh come on gentlemen! We have been discussing this place a million years now. Let's just build it and get it over and done with. Everyone wants to put in his little hands on this piece of land as though they have some divine right to it!

The guy has done some amazing work and the proposals are great and overall everyone is satisfied. And that's quite a task in Malta. Let's just get down to issuing the permits, build and move on.

Next...
1. Demolish the ugly and ridiculous housing estate on the left
2. Remove/hide the bus terminus
3. Clean up the city in general!

D Vella

Jul 1st 2009, 19:37

What better idea then on your way out of Valletta to pop in to the library and get your books without too much hustle,as in other Countries where lending libraries are centrally situated in Town and City Centres. It's not as if the Maltese read,because out of all the European Countries, we are the least well read and uniformed of them all. Time to open minds ,and this is one sure way of doing it.

a attard

Jul 1st 2009, 19:29

I really believed a library was part of the project!... what happened? The one in belt is- sebh is out of the way. A National library deserves to be more central and this is a great opportunity to have one.

c. camilleri

Jul 1st 2009, 19:27

Is the present library in the heart of the city not in an accessible location?

martin saliba

Jul 1st 2009, 19:25

How about the Times posting a poll ?

A. Attard

Jul 1st 2009, 19:25

Fully agree with the other comments. A public library is really and truly needed to be incorporated within the project proposed by Renzo Piano. An up-to-date hi-tech library with all facilities included. I am sure that if this library is located within the main entrance of Valletta, and more accessible to one and all, more people will take up reading. At present the library is located so much out of the way. I don't know what is so "public" about it after all since if one does not know where it is located one is sure bound not to ever notice it!!!!!

Luke Gatt

Jul 1st 2009, 19:11

The ideal site for the library is opposite of the proposed parliament, the gov should build a mega library.

E.Muscat

Jul 1st 2009, 19:08

The lending library at Floriana is a healthy walk from buses and if you need to park by going by car it is not a big problem:I am also retired and go there every 3 weeks and I cannot understand why one needs a library at city gate! Libraries are not that frequented anyhow now that the internet is the fountain of instant information.

David Schembri

Jul 1st 2009, 19:04

I want a library there — having a museum of Malta's political history is a painfully narcissistic idea on behalf of the political establishment. Also, seeing that books are often among the first things to be burned by totalitarian governments, having a library in that place would be a fitting monument to Malta's democratic credentials.

It would also mean that people would be inclined to enter the building more than once.

Martin Zammit

Jul 1st 2009, 19:03

I agree that a public lending library would be convenient in Valletta, but I cannot see that the proposed Valletta projects were ever going to accommodate everyone. If we start thinking this way, all we will be doing is wasting time again (maybe another 20 years or so). I like reading amongst other things too such as football, horse racing, basketball, swimming etc etc. What shall we tell Piano to do? Fit in a National stadium, a horse racing track, a basketball court and an international size swimming pool in Freedom square? Please, please let’s be sensible and remember, nothing and I mean nothing in this world exists with the full approval and needs of everyone.

iCocker

Jul 1st 2009, 19:03

I agree for library ... this should be a topic to discuss ... but was not Piano himself that proposed as well this idea in his interview on BondiPlus? Only last Saturday plans seemed to have changed when Dr Gatt proposed a Museum on Maltese Politics!!!!!!! How vain!

I rather would like to see books and interactive media free for everyone then only an expo of 'ugly' mugshoots ...

All in all in Piano's building I presume can easily accomodate a library ... it's an interior conversion or update which surely shall not ruin the concept of the building!

Frans Sammut

Jul 1st 2009, 19:01

You have my full support too.

Pauline Borg

Jul 1st 2009, 18:54

My main concern is that the project gets going... sooner rather than later!

Franco Farrugia

Jul 1st 2009, 18:51

Somehow, I don't think that a public library inside Valletta would be so necessary. I would be more in favour of a more accessible one in Floriana, one which would have much more books and which would be much more updated and with more open times.
That having been said, I wonder how many patrons the present library facilities have.

Raymond Sammut

Jul 1st 2009, 18:47

Ideally, the shops and apartments on the opposite side of the proposed Parliament House would be removed and make way for new Law Courts.

The present building housing the Law Courts would be ideal for the community library currently housed at Belt-is Sebh. This building enjoys a prominent position and proximity to the historical Bibliotheca.

I commented elsewhere that having Parliament House and the Law Courts side by side near the City Gate would be most fitting to a historical city that was built to champion freedom, law and justice.

Keith D. Azzopardi

Jul 1st 2009, 18:45

I agree too.

Can someone tell me what the proposed museum would showcase?

John Meilak

Jul 1st 2009, 18:45

Why build a library when there are at least 80% of the people who don't read a single book in a year? I'd rather stock up on new books and promote reading at school rather than building 'yet another library'.

Francois Bulteel

Jul 1st 2009, 18:41

I agree

Paul Micallef

Jul 1st 2009, 18:37

Sometimes certain comments make me laugh. Malia wants a more accessible and central location for the library. The Floriana library cannot be more centralised than it already is. One can park the car just outside the main door walk a few paces, change the books and off again. If the association want the members of the public to enter the library and change the books in the cars to make it more easy than that is a different story. But not in Valletta.

Alex Mifsud

Jul 1st 2009, 18:33

I just want to say that I totally agree with the idea

J. Zammit

Jul 1st 2009, 18:30

I'm glad there is general consensus on the designs and that the discussion is now revolving on the finer details of the plans.

Brigid Garroni

Jul 1st 2009, 18:27

Yes, I agree. I do too.

monica muscat

Jul 1st 2009, 18:26

Of course many support the idea of a public lending library at a more accessable area than
the present one. Since I retired, I joined the lending library at Floriana. It is really and out-of-the-way place. And you cannot afford to go by car as you do not find any parking place, week-days. Let us have a library incorporated in the Piano Valletta Projects. I am sure it will serve a better cause than a museum.

Mario Sant

Jul 1st 2009, 18:25

Yes we need a library there too, why not?!

Ray Farrugia

Jul 1st 2009, 18:06

I ask all those who support the idea of a library to show their support.

I support a library.