The ‘Konferenza Karmen Mikallef Buħaġar’, which is a biennial event hosted by the Department of Maltese , and this year its main focus was about the National Poet often eclipsed by his literary achievements: his role as Assistant Librarian of the National Library of Malta and Director of District Libraries. Hence Ms Joanne Sciberras, Deputy Librarian at the National Library, was invited to speak at this year's conference. 

Ms Sciberras's presentation ranged from the poet's daily administrative tasks to his more personal correspondence (regarding such issues as position and salary). She also shed light on Dun Karm's initiatives further afield, such as his pioneering efforts to systematise and extend the hitherto haphazard and poorly developed state of the Maltese district libraries, thus contributing extensively towards a nationwide reading culture. His constant inspection of district libraries, including his insistence on recovering misplaced books, brought out unexpected facets of our National Poet as Deputy Librarian. The anecdotal and the more austere aspects of Dun Karm's administrative duties were beautifully blended throughout the presentation. 

Ms Sciberras's contribution to the ‘Konferenza Karmen Mikallef Buħaġar’ was the outcome of research carried out on the internal documentation of the Malta Libraries and on official publications such as the Malta Blue Books. The Department of Maltese is grateful towards her valid contribution to studies on the National Poet, and intends to publish her work in the near future.

The footage of this speech by Joanne Sciberras is available here.