Work is also currently underway to modernise the library, which is located at the Dun Alwig Camilleri Primary School. The council called on companies and individuals to donate books to the library under the scheme A book from the community for the community.

In fact, people who bought books for the library were also given special discounts by various shops. In addition, the council came to an agreement with various embassies which resulted in the donation of various books about different cultures around the world. This event was tied in with United Nations Day.

Education Minister Louis Galea attended the event, which was enlivened by performances from the children. The focus was on cultural diversity, the environment and animals.

Children of different ethnic backgrounds wore traditional dress: Africans, British, North Africans, Italians and others all took part. The costumes were colourful, especially the African ones, but the British children decided that England’s national football team strip with a number seven on the back was the best way to sum up their heritage.

Dr Galea made a brief speech, saying that the Archives Bill had recently had its second reading in Parliament and time was nigh to have a similar bill for libraries. He said that the experience of handing libraries over to local

government was very positive and meant better use of resources and an improvement in the quality of service that libraries give to the community. Dr Galea said that in the near future, an agreement would be signed between government and Zejtun council to hand the library over to the village.

The work being done on the library, which included an extension, was being carried out by the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools and the local council.

Ambassadors and High Commissioners present included those from Tunisia, Italy, Russia, the United States, Palestine, the UK, China, Germany, Australia and also the European Union.