1592
Establishment by the Jesuits of a Collegium Melitense for the teaching of grammar and humanistic studies - Valletta.

1769
Expulsion of the Jesuits by Grand Master Pinto. Pope Clement XIV authorises the establishment of the former Jesuits’ College as a University of Studies, transferring all its property, including its book collections, to the new institution.

1839
Merger of the University Library with the Biblioteca Publica. This merger had already been highlighted in the University’s Statuto Fondamentale of 1838 which identified the Biblioteca Publica as the main supporter of the University’s teaching programme. 

1941
The University buildings at Valletta, including its small library collection, suffer heavy damage during the blitz of the capital city in World War II.

1953
Appointment of Ġużè Cassar Pullicino as the first professionally qualified librarian, appointment of Library Committee, and ancillary staff.

1954
Inauguration, through Colonial Development & Welfare Funds, of a new library at the University buildings in Valletta. Purchase of stock, and compilation of catalogue.

1955
Setting up of a Medical Library collection; and housing of same at the newly built Medical School in Guardamangia (1963).

1967
Transfer of the Library from its Valletta premises to the new campus at Msida, within an independent block designed by the British firm Norman & Dawburn. Introduction of a Reference section within the Library.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visits the new Library.
Appointment of Dr Paul Xuereb as University Librarian.

1968
Introduction of Library of Congress classification and establishment of a Melitensia section.

1991
Gradual introduction of automated services supported on Adlib (Databasix) software, and launching (1992) of online catalogue.

1992
Opening of a branch library at the Institute of Health Care at Guardamangia.

1994
Launching of library services at the University Gozo Campus.

1995
Inauguration of an extension to the Main Library building, designed by the Maltese firm England & England, and financed by the Commission for European Communities.

Establishment of branch library services at the Junior College, Msida, catering for pre-University studies in the sciences and arts.

1996
The Library hosts the 25th Annual Conference of LIBER - Ligue des Bibliothèques Européennes de Recherche.

1998
Mr Anthony Mangion is appointed Director of Library Services replacing Dr Paul Xuereb as Librarian on his retirement.

2000
Gradual migration to electronic resources in reference and journal literature.

2008
Merger of the Medical School and the Institute of Health Care libraries under one Health Sciences Library at Mater Dei Hospital.

Upgrading and reconfiguration of Main Library floors in line with the Library’s ethos as an information commons.
The Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) pilot project is initiated.

2009
Migration to new software (Ex Libris-Aleph 500) for the running of reader services and housekeeping routines. This formed part of a project partly financed through European Social Funding.

2010
Re-opening of Library premises at the former University Valletta buildings, to cater for joint masters’ programmes of studies with U.S. and British Universities. Opening of Bighi Branch Library with a specialized collection within the Heritage Malta Offices, Kalkara. Opening of another Branch Library at the Faculty of Arts.

Mr Kevin J. Ellul is appointed as Director of Library Services.
The Library implements RefWorks, an online bibliographic management platform that allows UM users to create a database of references which can be then used to produce complete bibliographies for their dissertations, papers and assignments.

2011
Act VII of 2011 otherwise known as the 'Malta Libraries' Act extends legal deposit rights to the University Library.  

2013
The implementation of HyDi, a one-stop solution that allows users to perform a single search through all the Library's print and online resources.

2014
The Library launches OAR@UM, the UM’s Institutional Repository which aims to collect, preserve and disseminate the intellectual output of the University. 

2017
Migration to ALMA, a cloud-based integrated library management system supported by ExLibris.