I refer to the news item Form IV And V Students ‘Should Have Access’ To Banned Local Book (February 4). The Malta Library and Information Association’s views on this matter can be summarised as follows:

1. MaLIA’s position is that it is a normal and standard practice for any library to have a selection and classification policy as part of its collection development programme, which policy takes into account the purposes of the library and the population making use of the library.

2. In the case of secondary schools, there is a wide range of levels of maturity in this age group (11 to 16) which is further compounded by the different levels of maturity of individual students of the same age. These different levels of maturity justify the need for classification of library items by age groups and must be taken into account when formulating collection development policies for secondary school libraries.

3. MaLIA feels that the school librarian responsible for the individual library is ideally positioned to guide students in their choice of library books according to their age, as opposed to a blanket decision for a whole sector of libraries. A librarian (school librarian in this case) is after all a professionally trained person and not merely a clerk responsible for the safekeeping and circulation of library items. MaLIA is informed that in many state secondary school libraries, there are now University qualified library and information professionals running the libraries. All efforts should be made so that in time all school librarians will be University trained and qualified.

4. It is normal that certain titles are challenged from time to time for various reasons. In such cases, the librarian may consult with a school/college library committee, which committee at particular school or college level would include qualified library staff, the headmaster/principal or his/her representative, student and parental representation and a child/adolescent psychologist. The Schools Library Service (SLS) should have the role of providing guidelines on how such School/College Library Committees can be set up and how they operate, and even participate in such committees if necessary, but the decision stays at school/college library level.

5. Finally MaLIA would like to note that, as the association that represents the interests of libraries and all library and information professionals in Malta and Gozo, it has not been approached to give its comments by the ministry responsible, the National Book Council, or any other entity involved in this controversy. The association also fails to understand how the group appointed by the minister responsible for libraries and entrusted to give the minister advice on stock selection and classification for state secondary school libraries, does not include representatives from the library profession.