The Maltese local libraries : their development and use

Abstract

The aim of this long essay is to look at the development and the use of the Local Libraries, in the different towns and villages, after their respective Local Council signed the agreement with the Libraries and Archives Department. In this regard a survey was carried with users of the Central Public Library. The survey was retrieved through a structured interview addressed at users at the Central Public Library, on a Saturday morning. The response revealed that most readers, who were interviewed, used the CPL instead of their Local Library for a number of reasons. The study suggests that the agreement between the Libraries and Archives Department and Local Councils might have left little impact on the usage of Local Libraries by its own local residents. Prior to the discussion of data, by way of comparisons, this study looks at the situation of the Local Libraries within three different European countries: Cyprus, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. The study offers a brief history of the Public Libraries in Malta, followed by a look at the agreement that has been signed between the Local Councils and the Libraries and Archives Department.