University to have faculty of media and knowledge sciences

The University of Malta has approved the setting up of the new faculty of media and knowledge sciences in which one of the departments would be dedicated to library information and archive sciences.

Winding up the debate in second reading of the Malta Libraries Bill, Education Minister Dolores Cristina told Parliament that 15 people had graduated in library information and archive sciences during the last three years, while many others had read for diplomas in the same sciences. This degree course would also be provided on a full-time basis as from next October. Additionally the department would provide post-graduate courses.

She said that 1,100 scholarships had been awarded during the last five years. These included scholarships in library studies at Dundee University.

Mrs Cristina referred to the controversy arising out of the non-accessibility of the book Vampir in school libraries. She said she had approved the recommendation that the book be made available to fourth- and fifth-year secondary school students.

Another recommendation that she had approved was that book ratings be given by a group of people from different cultural backgrounds and not by just one person. She emphasised, however, that clear guidelines should be provided to children and teenagers.

The minister welcomed the suggestion that the entity be given a Maltese name, adding that this would be considered in the committee stage.

She also agreed that more resources, funds and training were needed, but steps forward in these regards had been made.

She disagreed with opposition education spokesman Evarist Bartolo that the deputy librarian responsible for the National Library in charge of the conservation of manuscripts and other documents be considered at a higher level than the administrator of the public libraries. She said that these two deputy librarians would have different functions but of the same level of importance.

Mrs Cristina referred to the survey carried out by the National Book Council which had found that 86 per cent of the Maltese read a book, a magazine or indulged in some form of reading at least once monthly. But, the percentage of people engaging in quality reading was still very low.

She said that she would be meeting the council to draft a national strategy on reading. In the near future a number of mobile libraries would also be set up.

Minister Cristina concluded that a creative economy needed that more people should engage in quality reading. The annual book fair was a good promoter in this regard.

Earlier, Charlò Bonnici (PN) said that with the increase of technological developments, people were reading fewer books. The Malta Libraries would aim to develop libraries and to encourage reading as part of lifelong education as well as a recreational activity.

Agreeing with Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, Mr Bonnici argued that he would have preferred if the authority’s name were written in Maltese, Libreriji Maltin. The University of Malta was also helping the library sector by offering tailor-made courses.

More than 7,000 people, including foreigners, had visited the National Library in 2009 – an increase of 12 per cent over 2008. More than 500 books and 495 journals had been deposited in the national archives this year.

Moreover, €5,200 had been spent for the purchase of locally-published books and another €3,000 for foreign works.

Mr Bonnici said that several activities were organised to promote reading. Both the government and the National Book Council had also organised campaigns for the same purpose.

Concluding, Mr Bonnici augured that the Bill would increase the reading culture especially among children. This sector was fundamental to develop in other aspects of life.

Ċensu Galea (PN) said it was important to acknowledge the link between reading, education and open-mindedness.

Books had to be promoted as a significant source of research, in particular with primary school students. The internet should not be the only source of information.

The archives in Malta offered a great wealth and a basis of Maltese identity. These archives had to be endorsed and promoted in order to be available to all citizens.

While it was positive to note that there had been an increase in the number of books borrowed from public libraries, there was still much more that could be done in order to encourage reading.

The Bill did not cover a number of other archives that existed in both the public and private sectors.

One also had to analyse how to achieve the most local libraries. Local councils had to work hand-in-hand with the national organisation to further encourage the use of such libraries.

Mr Galea said it was important to encourage more adolescents to take up courses related to the administration of libraries.

The Bill was unanimously approved.