(2) Without prejudice to the foregoing, in respect of the National Library, the Deputy Librarian
National Library shall:
(a) manage and conserve its national collections for present and future generations and ensure
their accessibility to researchers;
(b) continue to acquire, assemble and conserve documents, publications, records, works,
whether electronic or not, published in Malta, or by Maltese authors, or about Malta, or in the
Maltese language, or about any aspect of Maltese studies by any author, wherever they are
published;
(c) acquire, assemble and conserve manuscripts and other unpublished material on any subject
by Maltese authors, or on any aspect of Maltese studies by any author;
(d) organise the collections in such a way as to make them easily accessible to researchers and
provide these with the necessary facilities within the limits of the resources available;
(e) continue to develop, within the National Library, a National Bibliographic Centre that will
maintain the Malta National Bibliography;
(f) make its collections known by organising exhibitions and other promotional events; and
(g) work closely with the National Archivist such that users of both institutions can easily
access each other’s collections for users’ greater benefit.
(3) In respect of the other libraries, the Deputy Librarian Public Libraries shall:
(a) maintain a network of the libraries listed in the Schedule;
(b) involve and advise the Regional and Local Councils in the administration of regional and
branch libraries according to the standards of best practice regulating such libraries;
(c) provide access to all library reference and lending services to foster and strengthen the
reading habits of all age groups;
(d) support individual formal and non-formal education and literacy activities and programmes
at all levels and for all age groups;
(e) promote opportunities for personal creative development and for awareness and appreciation
of cultural heritage, literature, scientific achievements and innovations;
(f) provide information services to individuals, local enterprises, and associations;
(g) provide professional advice, guidance and assistance on the establishment and management
of libraries and on the training of library and information professionals;
(h) inspect the libraries and establish and ensure compliance with standards for their
management to actively promote the improvement of such standards;
(1) ensure the arrangement and description of the holdings of the libraries and provide
appropriate finding aids to facilitate access to them;
(j) give advice to users on the use of the libraries; and
(k) make the holdings and services of the Libraries known by organising exhibitions and other
promotional activities and events.
8. (1) No document, publication, record, work or object, preserved in the National Library or in
the Gozo Public Library, may, without the written permission of the National Librarian, be
taken out from the premises of the said libraries. Every permission granted by the National
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