The National Library of Malta is currently hosting an exhibition of manuscripts, published works and artefacts related to the life and works of Canon Giovanni Pietro Francesco Agius de Soldanis who in 1763 became its first librarian on the request of Knight Fra Jean-Louis Guérin de Tencin, founder of the Bibliotheca.

The exhibition is being organized on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of De Soldanis’ birth which occurred on 31st October 1712. The exhibition includes numerous manuscripts belonging to De Soldanis himself, including his famous dictionary of Maltese, the first printed grammar of the Maltese language and his manuscripts of the history of Gozo. Other manuscripts were lent for this occasion by the Mdina Cathedral Archives, St George’s Basilica of Gozo, the Capuchins’ Friary of Floriana and private collectors. Artefacts of historical and natural interest from the National Collection were lent by Heritage Malta.

This exhibition was part of a number of events organised by the Ministry for Gozo, Heritage Malta, Malta Libraries and the Department of Maltese of the University of Malta to mark this anniversary. Earlier this year this exhibition was also set up at the Ministry for Gozo in Victoria.

The exhibition is open until Saturday 17th November 2012 from Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.00pm and on Saturday between 8.30am and 1.00pm.

A facsimile of de Soldanis’ map of Gozo is available at the price of €7.