Last month, members of staff and ex-employees of the Gozo Public Libraries gave a farewell dinner in honour of George Borg on the occasion of his retirement from the service. Minister for Gozo Giovanna Debono presided over the occasion. Mr Borg has just ended an 18-year period of service as Senior Assistant Librarian, responsible for the administration of all the public libraries in Gozo.

Those who make use of the Public Library services in Vajrinġa Street, Victoria, must have certainly benefited from the services he offered. It was quite rare for anyone to find Mr Borg sitting at his desk. Whenever a person inquired about something, Mr Borg put aside what he was doing to see to the needs of the researcher. Many a time he would climb up ladders to serve the public and ensure that the Gozo Library offered the best service ever to students, researchers, and scholars. His satisfaction was seeing the general public making full use of the services offered.

Following his appointment as Senior Assistant Librarian for Gozo, Mr Borg did his utmost to enhance the services offered by this cultural centre in the heart of Gozo and to make it more accessible to the public. It was due to his initiative that the Library acquired an ever-growing number of reference works. This initiative attracted many researchers and students of different ages, not only from Gozo but also from the sister island of Malta, who often called at the Gozo Library for a service that for some reason or another was unavailable at the libraries in Malta, including the University Library.

Mr Borg introduced school visits to the Library from both primary and secondary schools. This he did alongside other activities throughout the whole year such as an annual exhibition on the occasion of World Book Day. For George Borg, promoting of the Library and its services was of major importance. He also publicised the Library by writing in the local press and by taking part in radio and television programmes. Over the last years, he worked hard to computerise all Library book catalogues and to introduce access to the Internet at the Library.

After 40 long years, the services of George Borg at the Gozo Public Library came to an end. The Minister for Gozo described Mr Borg as an exemplary civil servant. The Public Library, indeed the whole public service, has lost one of its most dedicated civil servants and it will not be easy to replace him. In the name of the staff of the Gozo Public Library, I wish Mr Borg a well-earned rest!

Francesco Pio Attard