National Library of Malta

🎉 We are incredibly proud of Jeremy Debono, who recently graduated and was awarded the Dean's Award at the University of Malta during a ceremony on 29 May 2026! 👏

Jeremy is an integral part of our team at the National Library and his achievements inspire us all. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!

So proud of the four students from our department who got the Dean's Award during a ceremony held on Friday 29 May 2026 at the University of Malta. Congratulations go to Curtis Callus, Jeremy Debono, Maria Ferranti and Christopher Giordano.

The National Library of Malta, within Malta Libraries, is pleased to announce a new collaboration with the Universal Short Title Catalogue (USTC), the open-access database of books printed up to 1700. This important initiative will focus on the inclusion within the database of works held at the National Library of Malta that date within the period covered by the USTC.

We recently had the pleasure of hosting Dr Jacob Baxter, Deputy Director of the Universal Short Title Catalogue and Associate Lecturer at the University of St Andrews. Dr Baxter has commenced the painstaking task of examining the existing Sheaf Catalogue at the National Library in order to identify works printed up to 1700, the bibliographic data of which will eventually be incorporated into the USTC.

This collaboration represents a highly significant milestone for the National Library of Malta, marking a major step forward in addressing the longstanding and complex challenge of retrospective cataloguing.

The National Library of Malta (Malta Libraries) joins the Maltese community in mourning the loss of Noel Galea Bason, a distinguished Maltese artist whose legacy lives on through his outstanding designs of medals, coins, sculptures, and public monuments.

At the National Library of Malta, we remember him with particular gratitude for his valued collaboration with us when designing the commemorative coin marking the 225th anniversary of the Bibliotheca Building.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those who admired his work. May he rest in peace.

https://www.centralbankmalta.org/2021-225yrs-bibliotheca

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

Malta Libraries is proud to announce its latest publication📚'Created to Inspire: 500 Years of Artistic Splendour in Malta'.

Created to Inspire is the fifth volume in our ongoing series showcasing the proceedings of our annual public lecture series. The 2022-2023 series brought together a diverse range of speakers and topics, celebrating Malta’s rich artistic heritage through its collections, artists, and enduring cultural legacies. Titled 'Created to Inspire,' this series highlights the timeless power of art and its expression throughout history.

Now available for purchase at just €40! Get your copy today from the National Library of Malta and immerse yourself in Malta’s vibrant artistic history! 🖼️✨

🌟 The National Library of Malta hosted a special double feature event yesterday! 🌟

Our Public Lecture Series came to a close with a fantastic evening of knowledge sharing. A big thank you to Avertano Rolé for his engaging lecture titled: “Anthropomorphic features in Maltese landscapes – addressing issues of food security, soil protection, rainwater harvesting.” Your expertise truly enriched the event!

We also celebrated the launch of our latest publication 📚 Proceedings of Public Lectures 2022–2023 and Created to Inspire: 500 Years of Artistic Splendour in Malta.

Thank you to all the speakers who participated throughout this series. We look forward to welcoming you to our next public lecture series!

🌟 Join Us Tomorrow for another Lecture! 🌟

📜Lecture 6: Despite the fact that the Maltese countryside is not particularly favourable to arable cultivation, the archipelago has a long history of human occupation. Over centuries, its inhabitants have been forced to drastically modify the terrain rendering it one of the most anthropomorphic landscapes on the planet. The process of agricultural intensification accelerated during the 17th to the 19th centuries during which time more marginal land was brought under arable cultivation. This was realised through careful, labour intensive management of marginal landholdings which addressed issues of perennial water scarcity, occasional intense rainfall, shallow infertile soils, and the constant threat of soil erosion. The result of this labour can still be seen as distinct features in the Maltese rural landscape with terraced fields, armoured by dry rubble walls, being the most evident.

📜About the Speaker: Avertano Rolé is a visiting academic at the University of Malta after retiring from a long career lecturing at the institution. He currently lectures within the Faculty for the Built Environment. He has had extensive educational and training experience in international universities and institutions regarding environmental management. Avertano Role has played key roles in Maltese planning starting from Malta’s first Structure Plan and its subsequent reviews, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); and the Coastal Area Management Program (UNEP’s MAP CAMP-Malta). Avertano Role’s primary field of interest is geomorphology focusing on soil erosion and land degradation.

🗓️ When: Wednesday 29th April
🕕 Time: 6:30 PM
📍 Where: The National Library of Malta
🎟️ Entry: Free - No booking required!

📍 Join us at the National Library of Malta for a special double feature event!

On Wednesday 29th April 2026 at 6:30pm, we invite you to an engaging evening exploring Maltese landscapes and art history.

🎤 Public Lecture Part of the 2025–2026 Public Lectures Series: 'Landscapes in Paper and Place: Rethinking geo-spaces through Malta’s Cabrei and Country Maps'
“Anthropomorphic features in Maltese landscapes – addressing issues of food security, soil protection, rainwater harvesting”
by Avertano Rolé

📚 Book Launch
Proceedings Public Lectures 2022–2023
Created to Inspire: 500 Years of Artistic Splendour in Malta

📚 The New Book publication will be available for Sale on the evening.
Copies of the previous issues of the Proceedings of the Public Lectures will also be available for purchase.

📍 Location: National Library of Malta, Valletta
🕡 Time: 6:30pm

Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

Words from the National Librarian & CEO
Celebrating World Book Day.

On the 23rd of April, the world comes together to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day – a tribute to books, authors, and the power of reading. In Malta, this date carries even deeper significance as it also marks Libraries Day, a moment to recognise the vital role that libraries play in shaping informed, connected, and culturally rich communities.

Over the years, Malta Libraries has undergone a remarkable transformation. Since the enactment of the Malta Libraries Act 2011, the entity has steadily evolved from a traditional system focused largely on the circulation of printed books into a dynamic, forward-looking network of community hubs.

Today, Malta Libraries reflects the changing ways in which people access and engage with information. While books remain at its heart, the services offered now extend far beyond physical books only. Users can explore extensive collections of eBooks and audiobooks through the Libby App, making literature more accessible than ever before. Multicultural and multilingual resources cater to Malta’s increasingly diverse population, fostering inclusion and cross-cultural understanding.

With the introduction of the Kanopy App, patrons now have free access to films and documentaries which provide visual pathways into history, science, and culture. Additionally, emerging technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are opening immersive educational experiences that were unimaginable just a decade ago.

This transformation is not merely about technology – it represents a broader shift in purpose and the role of the librarian. Libraries are no longer silent repositories of books; they are vibrant community spaces where people gather to learn, create, and connect. They support lifelong learning, information and digital literacy, and equal access to information in a world where knowledge is power.

As we celebrate this special day, it is clear that Malta Libraries is not standing still. It is heading for change – embracing innovation while preserving its core mission of serving the public good. The journey from 2011 to 2026 tells a story of adaptation, vision, and commitment to knowledge in all its forms.

Libraries remain one of society’s most valuable institutions. On this day, we are reminded not only to appreciate them but also to imagine what they can become in the years ahead.

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Fit-23 ta’ April, id-dinja tingħaqad biex tiċċelebra l-Jum Dinji tal-Ktieb u d-Drittijiet tal-Awtur – fejn jingħata ġieħ lill-kotba, l-awturi, u s-setgħa tal-qari. F’Malta, din id-data għandha sinifikat ikbar għax timmarka wkoll Jum il-Libreriji, okkażjoni biex infakkru r-rwol essenzjali tal-libreriji biex isawru komunitajiet li huma infurmati, konnessi u kulturalment sinjuri.

Tul is-snin, Malta Libraries għaddiet minn trasformazzjoni notevoli. Minn mindu daħal l-Att tal-2011 dwar il-Libreriji Maltin, l-entità bil-mod il-mod evolviet minn sistema tradizzjonali li kienet tiffoka primarjament fuq iċ-ċirkulazzjoni ta’ kotba stampati, għal netwerk dinamiku ta’ ċentri komunitarji b’għajnejhom fuq il-futur.

Illum, Malta Libraries tirrifletti l-bidla fil-mod ta’ kif in-nies jaċċessaw u jagħmlu użu mill-informazzjoni. Filwaqt li l-ktieb jibqa’ jitħaddan f’qalb il-libreriji, is-servizzi li issa joffru jestendu ferm lil hinn mill-kotba fiżiċi biss. L-utenti tal-libreriji jistgħu jesploraw kollezzjonijiet estensivi ta’ kotba elettroniċi u awdjo permezz tal-Libby App, u b’hekk il-letteratura ssir aktar aċċessibbli minn qatt qabel. Riżorsi multikulturali u b’diversi lingwi jaqdu popolazzjoni Maltija dejjem aktar diversa, u jrawmu l-inklużjoni u ftehim interkulturali.

Bl-introduzzjoni tal-Kanopy App, il-membri issa għandhom aċċess b’xejn għal films u dokumentarji li jipprovdu mogħdijiet viżwali għall-istorja, ix-xjenza, u l-kultura. Barra minn hekk, teknoloġiji emerġenti bħal dawk tar-Realtà Virtwali (RV) u r-Realtà Awmentata (RA) qed jiftħu bibien għal esperjenzi edukattivi immersivi li kienu inkonċepibbli għaxar snin ilu biss.

NaNational Library of MaltaeCentral Public Library - MaltaoGozo Central Public Library

📅 Friday, 10 April 2026

It was an honour to host the launch of ‘Incunabula in Maltese Libraries’, a landmark publication compiled and edited by Rosalia Claudia Giordano, Marco Palma and Anna Scala, and translated into English by Stephen Parkin. The volume is published by Viella Editrice (Rome).

This important publication is the first comprehensive catalogue of the remarkable collection of incunabula preserved at the National Library of Malta and in convent libraries across the Maltese Islands, and is the result of an extensive project involving Maltese and Italian academics.

The volume includes contributions by:
Charlò Camilleri, Joe Cini, Krystle Farrugia, Paul Gatt, Martin Micallef, Chanelle Mifsud Briffa, Rachelle Mizzi, Arthur Saliba, Joseph Saliba, Joseph Schirò, Rosalba Tripoli, Lawrence Zahra, William Zammit.

The project was officially sponsored by Malta Libraries (who sponsored the translation from Italian to English), the Bibliographic Society of America, The Malta Map Society, and SiciliAntica Catania.

A sincere thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this event such a success. Special thanks also go to all the speakers, and particularly to Prof. Cristina Dondi (Oxford University / Sapienza University of Rome) for her engaging and informative lecture.

📚 On this occasion, an exhibition was inaugurated showcasing a selection of incunabula featured in the publication. Tomorrow, 16 April, is the last day the exhibition will be open.

The book may be purchased here:
https://www.midseabooks.com/shop/history/incunabula-in-maltese-libraries/