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IIn I)onte fra tre continenti \ • 'E,
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J{ is with a sense of trepidation that I am writing to such a spe
Yes, CPD matters.
cialised group of people archivists. Yet, as I set down to discuss matters, with some archivists; see what the work actually entails;
I also subscribe to need to develop a clear and focused CPD
and read about the world that archivists live in, then I started to
strategy. The strategy needs to be one that, first and foremost,
realise that there was a common language that you were using,
is relevant, focused and a possibility for all those involved in the
common beliefs and values that I adhered to. I felt more at home as
archives. Secondly, the strategy needs to be one that respects the people it's meant to engage. For any course or programme to be effective one needs to address and work on needs.
I came across words and phrases such as `continuing professional development', `Iearnerbased training', `communities' and `adhesive
Linked to this is a strategy that encourages learning from col
strategy'.
leagues. So, the strap line of the strategy needs to be `Learning I picked these words from your draft resolutions. What is clear is
from each other, learning from what works'.
the belief that continuous professional development (CPD) needs to
be part and parcel of our work, of our personal and professional
In itself this means that ways need to be explored so that indi
existence. As an educator I constantly harp on the need to make
vidually and collectively through different modes they can
sure that every child will leave education with high levels of skill.
share good practices. Boundaries may need to be brought
More importantly they will need to have a confidence in their ability
down as people learn to share and learn from each other.
and a desire to continue learning throughout their lives. They will
not have that confidence or desire unless their experience in
The final point I would like to share here in this brief contribution
schools has been one of success in learning. This is an absolutely
is that a strategy and varied practices can help us to strengthen
fundamental building block. That's why for every government from
the sense of expectation of all archivists and potential archivists
now on, they will have to have an obsession with the quality of the
to take responsibility for their own CPD. It should not be left for
teaching and learning at every stage in the education process.
someone else to address. In our respective countries and set ups we need to create an environment that nurtures learning as
Likewise the role of archivists can play an important role in the lives
of our people young and old to turn them into communities that
people staff and visitors/students alike engage in different ways. In this way can we truly create professional learning
appreciate our heritage; that help us to critically analyse and review
communities. Such a community is felt, lived.
our lifestyle, our attitudes towards anything that can be deemed The challenge awaits us.
archival.
5gr€;republishingthisissueofournewsletterontheeveofthehostingofthe41stlnternationalconfer ence of the Round Table on Archives. Between 17 and 19 November 2009 the leading world archivists will be in Malta to discuss the theme `lmagining the twenty first century archivist: new strategies for edu
cation and training'. During the last two years we have prepared for this event which will put our archives
sector on the international map. We are excited to meet this challenge which, I am sure, will be of great benefit to our local profession. On 31 July 2009 I was honoured by an invitation from the Director General of the Italian State Archives to
give a speech at the launching of the Archi.vt'o Stort'co Mu/fi.med;.a/e de/ Medi.terraneo. This is a thrilling initiative which will make it possible for the rich archival heritage preserved in Mediterranean countries to
see the light of the day via internet technology. For that event, I chose to deliver a paper entitled `Celebrating Voyages of Discovery'. I opted for such a theme as it is my true belief that researchers do
experience this feeling of a voyage of discovery in our reading rooms. And the tools we are creating, not I , , ,I , ,
only with the Mediterranean portal, but also with other initiatives we are involved in such as the European Archives Gateway (APEnet), are making it possible for researchers to reach what renowned historian Fernand Braudel called `purest historical gold'.
Lately we also launched a new website at www.nationalarchives.qov.mt We tried to depart from the traditional informative mode into some
thing innovative which focuses on egovernment services. It is now possible for our patrons to order copies of documents, and receive some of our services at the click of a button. This is just the first step which we hope will make it possible for wider interface with our users, I conclude this editorial by inviting all delegates who will visit Malta for CITRA 2009 to embark on their voyage of discovery of the Maltese
archives sector and the beauty of our country; I am sure that they will discover a great richness and excellent hospitality which gives scope for celebration. It will be opportunity for Malta to give another proof of the valuable international contribution it can make notwithstanding its small size.
•`7`resentation of the book 'Guardians of Memory' to the then President of Malta H.E.
Dr Eddie Fenech Adami on
13 January 2009
c;TeHon.Dolorescristina, Minister responsible for
archives addressing the first National Archives Forum on
22 October 2008
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• /he island of Gozo is the proud guardian of a millenniaold craft
The skill of the mason consisted in raising a wall by placing the
the building of the FJ/tan fasSetl./'eh, in English drystone walls.
rough pieces of stones without taking any measurements whatso
These are built with pieces of stone that are fitted together without
ever, basing his judgment solely on experience, on his able hands,
mortar. They are also referred to as rubble walls as the masonry is
and his selective eyes.
constructed using rough unfinished stones masonry.
The walls are constructed with stones of various dimensions placed
one upon another without the use of any sort of clay or cement.
Every piece of stone is laid with its maqgfiad or flat face downwards for robustness. The space behind the pieces and between one layer
and the next was filled with maskan, stone chippings, as this eased the percolation of excess rain water without damaging the structure.
The drystone walls serve several purposes. First and foremost they break down the slopes of hilly Gozo into manageable fields. Most
This craft and the most interesting drystone walls of Gozo were
important the walls prevent the soil from being washed away into the
demonstrated in an exhibition of forty firstclass photos shown for the
valleys by the rain water, On flat ground, where they are built very
first time for the IVo#e Gozitana on 23 May 2009 at the NAG Na
low, they mark the boundaries of various holdings. In some areas
tional Archives Gozo Section.
they also serve to protect the sprouting vegetables from the withering north westerly winds. Along lanes and paths, they prevent trespass ers and animals from stealing or causing damage to the crops. Next
to farms they form enclosures to impede fowls and other farm ani mals from roaming away. An i.mtenqa and a string to sign the limits of the wall were the only tools employed in its building. An i'mferqa is a small axe similar to a
hatchet with a short handle and a heavy metal head for use with one
hand; it has a flat edge on one side, and a sharpened edge on the other. The traditional way of constructing a field consists in first levelling the
ground by removing prominences of rock and filling in cavities with
stones and then spreading a layer of soil about a metre deep over the evened surface. The terrain is parcelled out into small areas by an extensive network of rubble walls.
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i7heNationalArchivist has the pleasure to invite you to the loth Annual Public Lecture
5RTth the theme De Poincy's sugar island: at what cost?
by Victoria Borg 0' Flaherty Director of the National Archives of St. Kitts Nevis
C7n 20 November 2009 at 18.00hrs
at the Intercontinental Hotel St. Julian,s EL*,
f