Opposition spokesman on education Evarist Bartolo has called for the forthcoming National Book Council survey not to be treated with complacency but allowed to strengthen the reading culture.
Speaking in Parliament in the second reading of the Malta Libraries Bill, Mr Bartolo said library development was directly linked to the economic, social and cultural development of the country. It was, therefore, paramount that this sector was better organised and modernised to provide a better service.
Reading and libraries remained important despite technological development. A knowledge economy and society needed a social, political and technological culture much more than in the past. The book remained central to thinking, reflection and the acquisition of knowledge. This also led to less fanaticism.
Mr Bartolo also referred to the report commissioned by the Malta Library and Information Association (MaLIA) in 2006 which, he said, was still relevant today.
He criticised the government for not referring to the new library structure by its Maltese name. He said the Bill’s framework included a national librarian and two deputy librarians – one for the National Library and another for public libraries.
One could not equate the Bibliotheca librarian with the one in charge of public libraries because the national library was the depositary of the documents pertaining to the nation’s history for the last 500 years and the librarian had to have specific competences. These competences were superior to those in public libraries.
Funds were crucial to the successful running of the sector. Although the budget had increased from €6,000 to €100,000 from 2007 to 2011, this sum would still fall short in running the national and public libraries and some other 50 branches. The sector was still starved of the necessary funding.
The authorities needed to set up a serious strategy for buying books. The focus should be on the quality of content and in the subscription to international journals which reflected the social and cultural changes in the country.
Librarians should be trained and qualified. Progress had been registered but this was not enough. There were still untrained librarians in many primary and secondary schools. It was important that children be enticed to read from their early years in schools. Competent librarians also changed what libraries stood for.
They turned bookstores into places where culture was transmitted, contributing to the social and economic success of the country.
There was the need for a national strategy about the diffusion of reading. Educational, economic, social, religious and cultural forces needed to combine their efforts to cooperate and coordinate in spreading the reading culture. Networking was important to make rational and maximum use of the resources available.
On innovation, Mr Bartolo said that there were exceptional Maltese in medical and scientific research but necessary structures and institutions were needed to inculcate a research mentality and culture. This also depended on libraries.
Owen Bonnici (PL) expressed his disappointment that Malta was one of two member states that did not participate in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). This study was used by the EU to measure lifelong learning.
Statistics had indicated that 54 per cent of Maltese people had not read a book in the 12 months before the survey was conducted. Moreover, 75 per cent had never visited a public library. The 2005 census showed that certain people were illiterate.
There was a lot to be done in the educational sector.
In Finland, parents read newspapers to their children and teachers were indispensable in promoting reading among children.
Answering a parliamentary question last year, the minister had divulged that 700 books had been bought in 2008 and this was in sharp contrast with the 4,090 books bought in 2002.
The same situation could be said with regard to local councils, which, from an allocation of €31 million for 2010, had earmarked only €25,349 for the buying of books.
Dr Bonnici said it was fundamental to invest in libraries.
With reference to EU funds for libraries, he said that Minister Cristina had said that no funds had been transferred to libraries because no one had applied.
The Libraries Department had applied under Scheme Priority Access 1 but had been denied any funding. However, later on the sum of €170,000 had been given. How had this amount been spent? Dr Bonnici asked.