Robert Mizzi, Catherine C. Vella, Heather Brown (Eds.). Malta Library and Information Association, 2006.

The recently published MaLIA (Malta Library and Information Association) Report on the State of Libraries in Malta is a timely piece of work. In terms of the comprehensiveness of its coverage, as well as the empiricism and objectivity of its scientific methodology, this is a welcome first of its kind.

The ambitious objective of the project was nothing less than “to present a clear picture of the current situation of local libraries by providing facts and figures”. This aim is reached admirably thanks to sound sampling techniques and questionnaire design, and in spite of the occasional lack of cooperation on the part of the authorities.

The report carries separate sections for the major information sectors ie the National Library, public, academic, school and special libraries; each section is written by the researchers who studied it, and each carries recommendations specific to the sector under study. A substantial conclusion pulls all the findings together and makes pertinent overall recommendations, that the relevant authorities would do well to take on board.

The population for the survey was drawn from the Ghaqda Bibljotekarji’s (MaLIA’s former name) 1996 Directory of Libraries and Information Units in Malta and in some cases this caused a few difficulties, as things have changed in the intervening 10 years. However, all possible effort was made to minimise the impact of this drawback by updating information wherever possible before sampling was carried out. Data collection was carried out by means of observation of the physical library premises, examination of available administrative records, and a structured interview with the librarian in charge.

Opening hours and staff cover

One other rather unsatisfactory finding that emerges from the report is that library opening hours often appear to be determined locally, depending on the individual librarian’s other commitments (eg teaching duties) or the constraints imposed by the institution housing the library (often a school or civic centre).

Again, this indicates a sad failure to realise the import-ance of libraries to their parent institution and/or the public, and to allow users’ needs to be the main determinant of the services offered.

Libraries are far more than book circulation centres, and many of the report’s findings appear to indicate that this fact is still unrecognised by people who should know

better, namely the authorities in charge of libraries, and parent institutions with libraries attached.

Sadly, many of the facts and figures confirm the gut feelings of many of us in the library and information professions about the state of libraries in Malta. However, it also demonstrates that some steps have started to be taken in the right direction. The number of professionally qualified personnel is on the rise, although recognition of their professional status is not much in evidence. Some special libraries, as well as a few independent school libraries and most academic libraries, seem to be recognising that the library and its resources should be the hub of the institution, and are accordingly investing in infrastructure and material and human resources; it is a shame that this proactive attitude is not really reflected in the State sector. There really does need to be a commitment to provide realistic and reliable budgets for libraries across all sectors. Only in this way can there be any sort of medium to long-term planning for coherent collection development.

MaLIA are to be highly commended for undertaking this enterprise, the first of its kind in the library and information sector in the Maltese Islands. The report comes across as a factual, unbiased and professional piece of work, that makes its point largely by presenting facts and figures impartially, and making recommendations soundly based on the findings. It is to be hoped that the seeds of their hard work do not fall on infertile ground – if this report serves to initiate a public debate about what our libraries should be, it will already have achieved a great deal.

Ruth Muscat

University of Malta Library

Available from MaLIA, telephone: 2340 2412 during office hours. Price: Lm3.25 including postage.