MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY REGULATIONS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 511.06

MALTA PUBLIC LIBRARY REGULATIONS

26th February, 1974

LEGAL NOTICE 21 of 1974, as amended by Legal Notices 13 of 1981,

23 of 1989 and 408 of 2007; and Act V of 2007.

The title of these regulations is Malta Public Library

Regulations.

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires -

"borrower" means the holder of a ticket;

"library" means the Malta Public Library at Beltisseb] and

includes any b ranch o f such library and the rooms, offices,

staircases, entrances and exits forming part of such library or of

any branch thereof;

"Minister" means the Minister responsible for Public Libraries;

"ticket" means a borrower ’s ticket issued to a person under

regulation 7 permitting him to borrow books from the library.

(1) The library may be divided into an adult division and a

junior division and each of such divisions may comprise a lending

section and a reference section.

(2) The Librarian may set aside any of the books of the library

for use in the adult or in the junior division or for use in the lending

or in the reference section.

(3) Except with the permission of the Librarian a person under

fourteen years of age shall not enter or use the adult division.

(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

Monday to Friday from 8.30a.m. to 5.45 p.m.

Saturday - from 8.30a.m. to 1.15p.m.

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

From Monday to Saturday - from 8.30a.m. to

1.15p.m.

(2) The library will be closed on Wednesdays, Sundays and

public holidays.

(3) The Librarian may, with the Minister’s approval, direct that

the library or any part thereof be closed for any specific period not

exceeding fifteen consecutive days.

Subject to the provisions of these regulations, a person who

is the holder of a ticket may borrow from the lending section of the

library books for reading or other use outside the library.

A person desiring to become a borrower shall complete an

application form supplied by the Librarian for that purpose.

(1) Following the application, the applicant may be issued

with such number of borrower’s tickets permitting him to borrow

books from the library as may be determined from time to time by

the Librarian.

(2)

A ticket shall be issued to a person who -

(a) satisfies the Librarian that he is a permanent resident

in Malta, and

(b) satisfies the Librarian as to his identity.

(3) Tickets may be issued to any other person at the discretion

of the Librarian.

Before issuing a ticket under regulation 7, the Librarian

may require the applicant to deposit with the library in respect of

each ticket issued to him such sum of money not exceeding eleven

euros and sixty-five cents (11.65) as the Librarian may determine

or to produce some other person as his guarantor.

(1) A ticket shall not be issued to an applicant who is

under eighteen years of age unless some other person who is

eighteen years of age or over becomes guarantor for the applicant.

(2) Except where both parents are dead or are unwilling or

unable to beco me g uar an to r, or where the L ibrarian d ir ects

otherwise, the person who shall be guarantor under sub-regulation

(1) of this regulation shall be a parent of the applicant.

(1) A guarantor shall complete and sign the form of

guarantee provided for the purpose by the Librarian which form

shall contain such conditions as the Librarian may from time to

time determine.

(2) The guarantor shall, in default of the borrower, be liable

for any sum which may become due to be paid by the borrower

under regulation 25 in respect of any book borrowed from a lending

section of the library, and his guarantee shall remain in force until

he is released or, when the borrower reaches the age of eighteen

years.

(3) A guarantor shall not be released by the Librarian unless he

has discharged all and any liability arising under the guarantee.

(4) The Librarian may refuse to accept any person as guarantor

without assigning any reason.

A ticket shall be personal and shall not be transferable.

A borrower shall forthwith report to the Librarian in

writing the loss of a ticket issued to him.

Where a borrower satisfies the Librarian that he has lost a

ticket, a new ticket may be issued to him after one month from the

date of reporting the loss in writing.

No person shall take any book from the library unless he

has complied with the procedure laid down by the Librarian for the

borrowing of books from the library.

Except with the permission of the Librarian, a borrower

may not on one ticket -

(a) borrow more than one book on the same day, or

(b) have more than one book on loan at the same time.

The Librarian may reserve for a borrower any book which

is not immediately available in any division of the library if such

borrower applies to him for such reservation.

A borrower shall, before leaving the library, ensure that

any book issued to him on loan is, prima facie, complete and

undamaged.

(1) Every book borrowed from the library shall, unless the

Librarian in any particular case gives permission to retain the book

for a longer period, be returned to the library within twenty-one

days after the day on which it was borrowed.

(2) Where a book is returned in accordance with sub-regulation

(1) of this regulation, it may be borrowed again by the borrower for

a further period of twenty-one days unless it is required by another

borrower.

(1) A borrower or his representative shall return any book

borrowed from the library by bringing it to the section of the library

from which the book was borrowed, delivering it to the officer in

attendance at the counter or other place prescribed by the Librarian

for the return of books and following any procedure laid down by

the Librarian from time to time for the return of books.

(2) For the purposes of these regulations, a book shall not be

deemed to be returned to the library unless it is returned in the

manner provided by sub-regulation (1) or in such other manner as

the Librarian may in any particular case direct.

(1) The Librarian may cancel or suspend any ticket issued

under these Regulations where a borrower fails to return a book

within the time allowed by these regulations or where the Librarian

is of opinion that the holder of the ticket has contravened or is

contravening any of these regulations.

(2) The Librarian may refuse the issue of a ticket to any person

whose ticket had been previously cancelled under sub-regulation

(1).

(1) A person may obtain a book from a reference section

for consultation and use in the library by following the procedure

laid down from time to time by the Librarian.

(2) A book obtained under sub-regulation (1) shall be returned

by the person who obtained the book by following the procedure

prescribed from time to time by the Librarian for the return of

books or in such manner as the Librarian may, in any particular

case, direct.

A person obtaining a book from a reference section is to

ensure that the book is prima facie undamaged.

Except where the Librarian in special circumstances

permits, books shall not be removed from the reference section of

the library.

No person shall retain any reference book for longer than

one hour when some other person requests the same book from the

Librarian.

(1) Any person who writes upon, marks or soils any book

or by whose act any book is, in the opinion of the Librarian,

otherwise damaged in any way whatsoever, or who destroys any

book, shall be liable to pay to the Government such sum of money

as the Librarian considers necessary to replace such book or the

whole set of books of which such book forms a part or such sum of

money as the Librarian considers to be full compensation for the

damage or loss to the Government.

(2) If any book which is borrowed from the library or obtained

for use in the library is not returned in accordance with these

regulations, the person who is the holder of the ticket on which

such book was borrowed or the person who obtained the book for

use in the library, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay to the

Gov ern men t such s um of mo ney as th e Lib rar ian con sider s

necessary to replace such book or the whole set of books of which

such book forms a part or such sum of money as the Librarian

considers to be full compensation for the damage or loss to the

Government.

(3) Where any sum becomes payable under this regulation in

respect of a book borrowed from the library, the person who is the

holder of the ticket on which the book was borrowed shall be liable

to pay such sum notwithstanding that the book was not materially

borrowed by him.

(4) The holder of a ticket who has reported in writing the loss

o f th e tick et to th e L ib r ar ian sh all n o t b e lia ble un d er thi s

regulation in respect of any book which is borrowed from the

library on that ticket after he has reported such loss.

(1) No person shall write upon, mark, soil or otherwise

damage in any way whatsoever or destroy any wall, door, furniture,

fitting or other thing in the library.

(2) Any person who writes upon, marks, soils or otherwise

damages in any way whatsoever or destroys any wall, door,

furniture, fitting or other thing in the library shall be liable to pay

such sum of money as the Librarian considers necessary for the

repair or replacement thereof.

The Librarian may stop any person from doing any act

which in his opinion may cause any damage to, or the destruction

of, any book or other thing in the library.

No person shall, in the library -

(a) spit,

(b) smoke or have or make use of any naked light;

(c) consume any food or drink;

(d) engage in any conversation after he has been requested

not to do so by the Librarian;

(e) lie down on or put his feet on any table or chair in the

library or lie down on the floor of the library;

(f)

deposit or leave any litter, paper or rubbish, save in the

bins provided for that purpose; or

(g) wilfully obstruct any officer of the library in the

performance of his duty.

No person shall bring into the library any animal under his

control, or permit or allow any such animal to enter or remain in the

library.

Except with the permission of the Librarian, no person

shall bring into, or cause to be brought into, the library any wheeled

vehicle, or permit or allow any such vehicle or conveyance to

remain in the library.

(1) No person shall bring any basket, suitcase, or other

receptacle, or any umbrella into the library unless he places it

forthwith in a rack provided for that purpose.

(2) Neither the Government nor the Librarian nor any other

public officer shall be responsible for the loss of or damage to any

article placed in the rack, whether such loss or damage was due to

the neglect or default on the part of any officer of the library or

otherwise.

(3) If any article which has been placed in the rack is not

claimed within one month after it has been so placed, such article

may be disposed of as the Librarian may think fit.

Except with the permission of the Librarian, no person

other than a member of the library staff shall enter any part of the

library not open to the public.

(1) A person suffering from any communicable disease

shall not borrow from, or read or use a book in the library or enter

the library.

(2) A borrower shall not permit or allow any person suffering

from any communicable disease to read or use a book borrowed

from the library.

(3) Where a borrower or any person residing in the place of

residence of a borrower contracts any communicable disease, the

borrower shall forthwith notify the Librarian.

(1) The Librarian may require any person -

(a) who has contravened or is about to contravene or

whom he has reason to believe to have contravened or

is about to contravene any of these regulations;

(b) who appears to him to be intoxicated;

(c) who refuses or fails to comply with any requirement or

direction made,

given

or

issued

under

these

Regulations;

(d) who is found using the library for a purpose for which

it is not intended;

(e) who is found sleeping or committing any nuisance in

the library;

(f)

who is offensively unclean in person or in dress;

(g) who is in the part of the library not open to the public

or from which he is excluded by these regulations,

to leave the library or any part thereof forthwith.

(2) Any person who refuses or fails to leave the library or any

part thereof when required to do so under sub-regulation (1) shall

be deemed to have contravened these Regulations.

(3) Any person who refuses or fails to leave the library or any

part thereof when required to do so under sub-regulation (1) of this

regulation may be removed therefrom at the discretion of the

Librarian.

Any person who -

(a) for the purpose of entering any part of the library;

(b) in any application for a borrower’s ticket; or

(c) for the purpose of obtaining the use of any of the

facilities of the library,

makes a statement or furnishes any information which he knows or

reasonably ought to know to be false in a material particular shall

be deemed not to have complied with these regulations.

(1) The Librarian may prohibit any person who has

contravened these Regulations from using any section of the library

for such period as he may determine.

(2) No person who has been prohibited from using the library

or any section thereof by the Librarian under this regulation shall,

without the permission of the Librarian, enter such library or any

section thereof.

Any sum which becomes due under the provisions of these

regulations shall be recoverable by the Librarian as a debt due to

the Government and shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.

Every power and duty conferred or imposed by these

regulations upon the Librarian may be exercised or discharged by

any person authorised in that behalf by the Librarian.

Any person who feels aggrieved by a decision of the

Librarian made or taken under these regulations, other than a

d ecis io n u n d er r eg u lati on 34 , ma y ap pe al t he r ef ro m to th e

Administrative Review Tribunal established in terms of article 5 of

the Administrative Justice Act, and the provision of this Act shall

apply to such an appeal.