The Division of Library and Information Studies was originally set up to organize evening diploma-level courses in library studies. Subsequently a similar course started to be held in archive studies. In a further development the Division started offering evening courses at degree level. With the upgrading of the Centre for Communications Studies into the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences, the Division became the Department of Library Information and Archive Sciences. Currently part-time evening diploma-level courses are being held in library and in archive studies. It is envisaged that these will be substituted by full-time day courses leading to an Honours or General degree in Library and Archive Studies as from October 2011. The Department also offers a research-based post-graduate programme in these areas: aspects relating to the development of Maltese libraries, archives and records centres; physical and virtual accessibility issues relating to libraries and archives; bibliographic control and description of Malta-related printed and manuscript material; library and archive education for primary and secondary level students; school libraries and their role in the educational process; collection development issues, particularly in relation to Maltese libraries, archives and record centres. Research areas: Information technology and its utilization in a library and archive setting. All aspects related to the Maltese library and archive scene, including bibliographic control and archival description. Collaboration: The Department collaborates with other Faculties and Departments of the University of Malta, particularly with other Departments within MaKS and within the Faculty of Arts, as well as with the University Library. On a national level cooperation and initiatives are undertaken with the National Archives of Malta and with the National Library. Ties are also sustained with the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library of St John’s University, Minnesota, USA and with the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College, London. The Department is also a member of EUCLID, the European Association for Library and Information Education and Research.