Libraries in Malta as sources of information : survey

Abstract

Today our society is going through rapid changes as a result of the development of the information superhighways. These changes are apparent in the economic, social, cultural, and political aspects of our society. Governments realise the importance of information for a better quality of life, industrial competitiveness and the creation of more jobs. The computer has made it possible for information to be produced in large quantities and to be freely accessed. This puts the role of libraries in jeopardy; information technology is threatening the very existence of libraries. The situation in Malta is no different. So there is a need for the role of libraries to be reviewed in order to determine whether or not they are adapting themselves to the changes taking place in our society. Hence a survey of a number of libraries was carried out and the following conclusions were drawn: libraries in Malta today should make good use of the advances in information and communication technologies to better access and retrieve information for library users. More than this, they should transform their role from keepers of information to one of brokers of information. This is best done through the setting-up of a national information network, which will be able to satisfy the diverse information needs of Maltese society. The network should include all types of libraries and information centres, which will contribute their share to the provision of a reliable and comprehensive information service.