'Localensia' : setting up a locality-focused collection in local councils

Abstract

Apart from branch libraries of the Central Public Library (C.P.L.) there are various local councils who are taking the initiative of forming a small collection focused entirely on the locality. This collection duplicates the material deposited at the National Library of Malta (N.L.M.); and makes the information about the relevant towns or villages more accessible to users and minimizing physical use of the material at the National Library. The focal point of this essay shall be a collection policy for these resource centres. Moreover, one can also consider document supply from the N.L.M. and University of Malta Libraries (U.L.M.) to have a comprehensive and updated collection. Peripherally, one has to consider methods of acquisitions and recording of the holdings in order to make the material available to the users. The approach shall be holistic and will also include a comparison with other foreign local council collections, if available. Furthermore still, the essay shall be enhanced with a literature review and includes questionnaires and/or correspondences with relevant persons that can also contribute to this study.