Guidelines and standards for the development of the Malta public library service : a case study for public lending (branch) libraries : proceedings of launch of working paper

Abstract

Regional libraries act as focal points for the ubiquitous branch Libraries which are to be found in almost every town and village dotted around these islands. Their collections are, in relation to those housed in the CPL and in the regional libraries, smaller and more generic.

The standards presented here refer only to branch libraries as listed in the new Malta Libraries Act No. VII of 2011. Branch libraries are public lending libraries intended to serve the local community of their particular locality, be it a town or village. Their mission is to serve the inhabitants within the confines of their respective local council. While visitors from other localities are welcome, the branch library’s intended target audience remains its respective local community. Most localities can boast of having a branch library, most of which are located in government schools or housed within local council buildings.