Department of Library Information and Archive Sciences
The University of Malta’s Department of Library Information, and Archive Sciences (LIAS) provides the education necessary to compete and succeed in this contemporary information age. As part of the Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences (MAKS), LIAS presents unique opportunities to build and expand one’s knowledge, skills, and capabilities in diverse information professions including in Library and Information Science (LIS), Archives and Records Management (ARM), Knowledge and Information Management (KIM) and Documentary Heritage and Melitensia Studies at Master level. Research at Ph.D. level is also possible.
The Department offers a number of courses that are continually updated and refreshed in order to keep abreast and ahead of current and emerging developments and trends in these fields:
Bachelor in Knowledge and Information Management (B.KIM)
Diploma in Library and Information Studies (Dip.LIS)
Diploma in Archives and Records Management (Dip.ARM)
Master of Arts in Documentary Heritage and Melitensia Studies (next intake planned in Oct. 2018)
Masters by Research (MA) in the Library and Information Science, Archives and Records Management, and Knowledge and Information Management fields.
Ph.D. in a relevant area of research chosen by the student
LIAS provides expertise and leadership in the LIS, ARM, and Information/Knowledge Management domains, with some 25 years of teaching and research excellence coupled with active engagement in local, regional, and global LIS, ARM, and KIM scenes.
At the local level, the Department collaborates with Faculties and Departments at the University of Malta, as well as the University Library.
At the national level, the Department has collaborated with the National Library of Malta, the National Archives of Malta, the St. James Cavalier Centre for Creativity, the Central Bank of Malta, Malta’s Broadcasting Authority, and Malta’s Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). It also collaborates with the Malta Libraries Council (MLC), the Malta Library and Information Association (MaLIA), the Cathedral Archives Resources Council, and the Malta National Archives Council.
At the international level, the Department has collaborated with the BBC, the British Library, the French National Audio-Visual Institute, the Open Society Archives at the Central European University, University College London, University of Zagreb, University of Split, Vilnjus University, Belarusian State University, and St. John’s University in the USA.
The Department’s diverse faculty of scholars and professionals have lectured, presented, researched, and published in Malta and around the world. Its research directions and interests include bibliographic control, document/book history, documentation science, records and information management, information theory, information policy (access, freedom, security, rights, etc.), the intersections of information, society, culture, politics, and technology and digital archives and libraries, electronic publishing/scholarly communication.
The Department’s programmes are essential for working professionals seeking to strengthen their qualifications, scholars wishing to advance their research in LIS, ARM, and KIM, and those individuals who are new to the information domain. LIAS graduates can work in diverse information professions such as knowledge, information, and records management, librarianship in its rich diversity (academic, public, special, digital), archival work, and information policy analysis (access, freedom, ethics, privacy, security, rights). Indeed, the Department’s graduates are well-positioned to provide expert knowledge, analysis, and insight for organizations aiming to leverage and maximize their information assets and potentials. Graduates are prepared for careers as knowledge and information managers, records and information managers, information policy researchers, knowledge consultants, information specialists, librarians, archivists, preservationists, curators, and librarians.
Individuals interested in following such courses for their own personal interest are also very welcome. This is particularly the case with the Diploma courses and the Master of Arts in Documentary Heritage and Melitensia. The latter course is ideal for Melitensia lovers and those who carry out research in Maltese archives.
