NATIONAL MALTA LIBRARY REGULATIONS

NATIONAL MALTA LIBRARY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 511.03

NATIONAL MALTA LIBRARY REGULATIONS

15th February, 1938

GOVERNMENT NOTICE 82 of 1938 as amended by: Government

Notices 522 of 1939 and 357 of 1950; Legal Notices 18 of 1974, 24 of 1989

and 408 of 2007; and Act V of 2007 and Legal Notice 173 of 2025.

The title of these regulations is the National Malta Library

Regulations.

The library is open to all persons for the purpose of reading

and studying.

Persons, however, under sixteen years of age may only be

allowed to use certain rooms in the library, if furnished with a

ticket issued to them by the Librarian. This ticket shall be liable to

be withdrawn, permanently or for a time fixed by the Librarian,

whenever in his opinion the holder of the ticket does not behave

properly in the library.

Deleted by Legal Notice 173 of 2025.

For the perusal of a book or manuscript, application is to

be made to one of the library attendants, to whom clear indications

of the book or manuscript desired should be given on a form

provided for the purpose.

After perusal, books or manuscripts are to be returned to

the attendant and not left on a table or returned to the shelves.

Exception is made in the case of such books of reference as are

placed on special shelves for the purpose.

The Librarian may refuse to issue such books or

manuscripts which he does not consider adapted to the age or the

intelligence of the persons applying for them provided that the

applicant may appeal against such refusal to the Administrative

R e v i e w Tr i b u n a l e s t a b l i s h e d i n t e r m s o f a r t i c l e 5 o f t h e

Administrative Justice Act, and the provision of this Act shall

apply to such an appeal.

Books may be borrowed from the library with the

exception of -

(a) manuscripts, rare editions, prints, periodicals and

books difficult to replace;

(b) books of reference which are in frequent demand;

(c) books not yet registered and stamped in the library;

(d) books, which, in the opinion of the Librarian, are not

in a condition to be issued.

Books and periodicals, but not manuscripts or prints, as

provided in regulation 7, may be lent out of the library, if a written

application, made to the Librarian, is approved by the Committee.

The Committee may lay down conditions under which the loan of

NATIONAL MALTA LIBRARY

such books is to be made.

A person wishing to obtain the loan of books can do so by

applying to the Librarian, who will have the name and address of

such applicant, and such further particulars as may be necessary,

entered in a special book. The Librarian may require the signature

of a surety guaranteeing to make good the loss or damage of a

borrowed book or pay the amount chargeable for the said loss or

damage.

Borrowers must sign a receipt in which their address and

particulars relating to the borrowed books are entered. At the back

of the receipt shall be printed regulations relating to the loan of

books, and the receipt shall contain a declaration that the borrower

undertakes to observe the library regulations.

Borrowers shall return the book within seven days, or

within any period specified in writing on the receipt form.

A borrower detaining a book beyond the time allowed

becomes liable to have the privilege of taking out books withdrawn.

Any person who damages any book or property of the

library shall be liable to pay its value, and, in addition, the

Committee may impose a fine not exceeding eleven euros and

sixty-five cents (11.65).

Persons improperly using the library by refusing to observe

silence, damaging books or other library property, or disturbing

others frequenting the library, are liable to instant dismissal.

Without prejudice to any judicial proceedings which may be

undertaken, the Librarian may exclude from the library for a period

not exceeding fifteen days any person guilty of a breach of order in

the library; and that period may be extended by the Committee as

they may determine.

In the case of damage to any book or other library property,

the exclusion will hold good beyond the term of punishment until

the offender shall have paid to the Librarian a sum equal to the cost

of replacing the object damaged, or if it cannot be replaced, a sum

equal to the estimated valve of the object.

(1)

The Library shall be open to the public as follows -

(a) From the 1st October of any year to the 15th June of

the next following year

From Monday to Friday - from 8.15a.m. to

5.45p.m.

Saturday - from 8.15a.m. to 1.15p.m.

(b) From the 16th June to the 30th September of any year

From Monday to Saturday - from 8.15a.m. to

1.15p.m.

(2) The library will be closed on Sundays and public holidays.

The Librarian may, with the approval of the Minister responsible

for Public Libraries, direct that the library, or any part thereof, be

closed for any specific period not exceeding fifteen consecutive

days.