Mario Buhagiar, president, The Malta Historical Society and head of the Department of History of Art, University of Malta, Tal-Qroqq
Book restoration funds
The Times (May 31) prominently reported Education Minister Dolores Cristina's pledge to "lobby" Cabinet for more funds to be set aside for restoration of books at the National Library.
Can the minister please keep us informed on how Cabinet reacted to her pledge and if funds have indeed been set aside for this important purpose?
The state of preservation of books and priceless archives at the National Library is a national shame. A great deal of lip service is paid to culture and heritage for political mileage. Sadly, however, they remain the Cinderella of our culturally insensitive political set up.
The Malta Historical Society has voiced its concern on several occasions but its pleas and suggestions have gone unheeded.
When will our priorities be put right?
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victor pulis
Jul 24th 2010, 09:54
The very fact that the minister of education has to lobby (pressure) her collegues to aquire funds for the restoration of books is already shameful. Why must there be lobbying for such an important project? The shame would increase a hundred fold if no funds are found.
Martin Debono
Jul 23rd 2010, 14:30
Perhaps Professor Buhagiar can also inform us what his society may be doing to help raise funds for book restoration. I suspect however that the society is not doing much but instead expects that government to come up with all the funds, as is typical of this country.