THE NATIONAL LIBRARY

CALL ME ROMANTIC BUT, I FIGURED, WHAT BETTER WAY TO WRITE ABOUT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALTA THAN TO ACTUALLY DO IT AT THE NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MALTA. AS I SIT HERE IN THE GLOW OF MY DESK LAMP, MY ONLY COMPANION FOR THE HOUR.

Save for two locally renowned historians who shall remain unnamed, and the hum of a microfiche machine, was yet another researcher engrossed in a stack of newspaper headlines from an otherwise seemingly insignificant month in 1954. At these very same tables much of Malta’s history has been written, poured over, challenged and revised. I’m happy to call this my office on every other day. Yet, today feels special because I am experiencing the space as it is meant to be experienced… and serendipitously, it also happens to be the month dedicated to… you guessed it: books!

Situated in the centre of Valletta on Old Treasury Street, the National Library is one of the major treasures of the Maltese islands. Nowadays, much like its counterparts on mainland Europe, it mainly serves as a reference and research library, but it was originally founded as a public library, during the last years of the Order of St John of Jerusalem on the island. The library’s origin can be traced as far back as 1555, when at the time all books left in the legacy of deceased knights were to be passed on to the Common Treasury of the Order. The building itself, an architectural gem in its own right, was designed by Polishborn architect Stefano Ittar and was officially inaugurated on June 4, 1812 under British rule. The last important building to be constructed by the Knights, and also amongst their most splendid, it is the only building of its time which retained its original function in an ever changing and much challenged capital city. Over the years, Auberges have served as Ministries, Palaces have been transformed into office blocks, but the library has staunchly remained persevered as a library, with books having lined its walls ever since.

centre of Valletta on Old Treasury Street,

Looking beyond the much-photographed colonnade and seemingly impenetrable baroque façade, aside from books, the library hosts various types of collections ranging from collections of journals to newspapers, manuscripts and maps, all held and preserved for posterity, with the Archives of the Order of St John being the crowning glory amongst them.

During library opening hours, drop-in visitors are allowed in to take a peek at the grand Reading Room to experience its loftiness and stately proportions, allowing themselves to be engulfed by the enchanting scent of old books. The tip to getting in is that all one needs to bring along is an identification document! Items from the national collection are often on display in the visitors’ area, so visitors will always be able to get a taste of the riches that lie behind closed cabinets – no matter the day; and if one is so inclined, why not tie the knot here as well? The space is open to hosting a variety of events, bookish or otherwise, and with a romantic backdrop such as this, it makes the National Library the picture-perfect setting for book-loving couples.

Visiting this architectural gem at night is a pleasure afforded to only a few; but, and here’s the second tip, if you are travelling to Malta in April, May or June, on either the 21st, 26th and 23rd respectively, you can tick this off-the-beaten-track visit off your list, by attending one of the free public lectures held in the evenings, which the National Library organises every year around a chosen theme. Aside from the archives, the National Library boasts of a wealthy collection of artistic items too in terms of prints, watercolours, paintings, illuminated manuscripts and illustrated printed works, and the aim of the ongoing lecture series, entitled ‘Created to Inspire: 500 years of artistic splendour in Malta ’, is to showcase to the public these little-known works of art, stretchin g as far back as the 15th century, usually only accessible to scholars and researchers.

Picture it, the Reading Room all lit up, banter over a glass of wine, the opportunity to view items from the national collection, which few if any have ever set eyes on - and who are we kidding, also nail the perfect book month selfie whilst you’re at it!