The University of Malta (UoM) Library has launched its enhanced and redesigned website which provides easier access to all available resources for academics, support staff and students. The website boasts a new user oriented interface which meets the needs of patrons who would like to search the Library’s e-resources quickly and effectively.
Different tabs on the homepage perform direct searches for books, print journals, online articles, databases and also Google Scholar.
Across the years the UoM Library has considerably increased its repertoire of print literature from diverse areas of study. In order to facilitate how patrons browse, identify, and locate these publications, the library updated its online catalogue. Moreover, users can renew as well as reserve books online from the comfort of their home.
The refurbished study areas at the library allow patrons to feel at ease while discussing their research or studying for their exams. In the words of director Kevin J. Ellul, the library is “the place of interaction”. One floor is dedicated to group work activity with sofas and bean-bags which create a relaxed atmosphere to share ideas over. Other spaces are dedicated to study and research in silence.
User support is at the front line of the library’s mission. The library staff endeavours to link users to both print and online services. Today, a move towards an E-Library is imperative. Qualified library staff offer workshops to train students and academics on using online resources which the University Library has incorporated as part of this shift. The E-Library includes access to single search features that retrieve online journal articles and databases, as well as ebooks and the online version of the Oxford English Dictionary. The Library’s front page also includes access to RefWorks, a bibliographic management software allowing users to create a database of references and automatically generating a bibliography formatted in any chosen style such as APA, Harvard, etc. The Library Homepage is a showcase for all these facilities.
The library is affiliated with renowned institutions, such as CILIP and LIBER, which provide resources and tools to enhance the research experience of patrons. CILIP is the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in the UK which offers conferences and specialised training courses on cutting-edge library and information science topics. LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries represents the interests of European research libraries, their universities and their researchers. It is responsible for organising conferences, publishing journals, coordinating policies and participating in EU-funded projects.
As a service-driven and customer-oriented entity, the University of Malta Library strives for excellence by providing resources to enhance dissemination of information, acts as a catalyst for knowledge, while supporting the future of research initiatives at the university.