Laurence Zerafa, chairman, MaLIA, Msida
Essential ingredients of attractive libraries
MaLIA, the Malta Library and Information Association, notes with satisfaction the editorial of March 7 highlighting the importance of books and libraries as one important cornerstone for an educated and informed citizenship. MaLIA too has lobbied to put in place the essential ingredients that would attract people to use libraries and read. These include:
• Location. Our latest drive in 2009 was to relocate the Central Public Library to the City Gate area. This was an idea taken on by Renzo Piano, no less, in his initial plans. For some reason the government decided to drop the idea. An alternative suitable location that merits study would be the old food market behind the palace, suitably converted. This would have the added advantage of being close to the National Library and the main shopping areas of Valletta.
• Welcoming and attractive modern premises suitably furnished and that appeal to all age groups.
• Appropriate collections, in print, electronic and audiovisual formats, with the necessary equipment and services to meet the needs of all potential library users from toddlers to senior citizens, from users that turn to libraries for study and research to those who come for leisure reading or to use IT equipment. In this regard we support the recent initiatives taken to replace and augment existing old collections.
• Suitably qualified and constantly trained professional staff especially at front desks. It is this staff who will ultimately translate any investments made into a cost-effective service suitable to the needs of the public.
• The right legal frame-work, librarian education and published library standards to ensure that over the years there is a continuing progress in the area of libraries, library practice and the librarian profession.
• The right financial backing to enable the implementation of the measures contemplated in the Library Act.
MaLIA looks forward to the enactment of the new Library Act which it sees as an impor-tant step in the right direction and to assist in making things happen.
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Claire Busuttil
Mar 19th 2011, 16:50
for extremly good second hand books at extremly cheap price visit the Happy Paws Charity shop book shop in St.Venera opposite to lidl.
you can find also school text books .
You will be helping the animals as well.
Denis A. Darmanin
Mar 19th 2011, 10:03
How about libraries opening ondifferent or for later hours than working hours?
Other to Saturday mornings, libraries usually open the same hours as regular working hours of the civil service and much of the private sector.
Why must one take time off or waste the only free morning in the week to conduct research, borrow books, etc. Many libraries overseas, on average remain open till 7.00pm. They also offer their staff a reasonable incentive.
If the public library was brought to Valletta, together with the National Library, they would be centralised and definitely offer another attraction to the city. Is it possible that there isn't any large government owned palazzo or some sparsely occupied government building in Valletta, that can serve for this purpose?