Traces early attempts at providing local library education and training in Malta against the background of growing demand for library and information services, stunted by the unavailability of professionals. Records the roles of the Ghaqda Bibljotekarji and the University of Malta in the evolving provision of part-time library and information science education. Includes an outline of the current diploma structure and a profile of the student population. Addresses the need to upgrade standards and describes the links being established with library and information science programmes abroad.
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References
1.
Malta, however, has relatively vast maritime areas (excluding Maltese Islands and internal waters): Territorial waters 3,800 sq. km.; Fishing zone 11,100 sq. km.; and Continental shelf 72,850 sq. km. Source: Malta information (Valletta: Dept. of Information, 1993). It is, moreover, actively prospecting for fossil fuels and could potentially become an oil producing state.
2.
Sciberras, L.A marketing tool for the information industry: Malta and its national bibliography . Bradford, MCB University Press , 1986. p. 8. A now somewhat dated but still useful survey of this important library is provided in: Xuereb, Paul. The Royal University of Malta Library. In: Malta Library Association Yearbook 1973. pp. 33-43.
3.
Sapienza, Anthony F.Libraries in Malta: a directory. In: Malta Library Association yearbook 1971. pp. 43-44. Two subsequent directories were compiled and published in the Association's yearbooks for 1975 and 1979.
4.
Ghaqda BibljotekarjiNewsletter , 79, July-Sept. 1993. p. 2. Two intervening directories, compiled in 1975 and 1979, listed twenty-six and forty-six units respectively.
5.
Xuereb, P.Libraries and librarianship in Malta: a bibliography. In: Malta Library Association yearbook 1971. pp. 41-42.
6.
Sciberras, L.Libraries & librarianship in Malta: a bibliography. In: Xuereb, P.Promoters of information: the first twenty years of the Ghaqda Bibljotekarji 1969-1989. Valletta , Ghaqda Bibljotekarji, 1989 [i.e. 1990]), pp. 49-69. The supplement, covering May 1989 to May 1992, was carried in Ghaqda Bibljotekarji Newsletter, 74, April-June 1992.
7.
University of Malta.Calendar 1993/1994. Msida, University of Malta, 1993 . p. 73.
8.
Diploma in Library and Information Studies 1993-1995: prospectus. Msida, University of Malta, 1993 . p. 1.
9.
Information gathered through a profile questionnaire distributed to students at the beginning of the Diploma course (October 1993).
