National Library of Malta - Valletta, Malta - Libraries on Waymarking.com

The National Library of Malta faces on to Republic Square and was the last building erected by the Knights of Malta in 1796 before their expulsion from the islands; it was 1812 before the library was officially inaugurated. The building was designed by Stefano Ittar, a Polish-born architect living in Italy, to the specifications of Grand Master de Rohan. The library houses the personal libraries of the Knights and their archives and treasury documents, together with 30,000 modern books and portraits of benefactors. Another treasure is the Brocktorff collection including 89 watercolours depicting views of Malta by Charles Frederick de Brocktorff (1775-1850).

(source: amaltaattraction.com)

The idea of a public Library in Malta originated in 1555 with the issue of a decree by Fra' Claude de la Sengle, Grand Master of the Order of St. John, whereby all books in the legacy of deceased knights were to pass to the Common Treasury of the Order. It was not until 1776, however, that the formal foundation of a Bibliotheca Publica was decreed at the Chapter General of the Order convened by Grand Master Emmanuel de Rohan. The main collections were those belonging to Fra' Louis Guérin de Tencin, Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order who had died in 1766, and of Cardinal Joaquin Portocarrero, which de Tencin himself had purchased on the Cardinal's death in 1760. The Library was for a time named Bibliotheca Tanseana in de Tencin's honour. De Tencin is still today considered the founder of the Library. The books accruing to the Library, some very rare or with fine bindings, continued to be kept in cramped quarters in an edifice known as the Forfantone. De Rohan decreed the building of new premises to the designs of Stefano Ittar, a Polish-born architect residing in Italy. The building, situated in the heart of Malta's capital city, Valletta, was completed in 1796 but two years later the Order of St. John was expelled from Malta by Napoleon and during the French 2-year period, the books remained at their former premises. It was only in 1812 - during the British administration - that the new premises were officially inaugurated by the British Civil Commissioner, Sir Hildebrand Oakes. From then on, the Malta Public Library, as it was then called, continued to flourish with a number of new acquisitions. In 1925, the Library acquired its "legal deposit" status by an Act of Parliament and 11 years later was granted the prefix "Royal" by King George V. The following year the Royal Malta Library took over the custody of the Archives of the Order of St. John which were transferred from the Public Registry premises. With the setting up of the new Public Library in Floriana in 1976, the Library in Valletta was officially designated as the "National Library of Malta" and became solely a research and reference Library.

(source: libraries.gov.mt)

Classification of Library: Public Library (Open to all) Internet access available: Unknown - Could not verify Hours of Operation: Winter (1st October till 15th June) 08:15hrs - 17:00hrs Saturday - 08:15hrs – 13:15hrs Summer (16th June till 30th September) Monday - Saturday 08:15 hrs - 13:15 hrs Library Website: [Web Link] Additional Internet Connection Options: Not listed Approximate date of opening.: Not listed

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