Students can visit closed-off section at University library during Campus Book Festival

In collaboration with the University of Malta Department of Maltese and the Għaqda tal-Malti - Università, the National Book Council is organising a special visit to the Melitensia section of the UM Library during the Campus Book Festival.

This event is a perfect opportunity not only for sixth-form students who are currently studying to get their necessary qualifications to enter University but also for secondary school visits as part of their extra-curricular activities.

Public and students alike will be guided through the archives within the University library which contain the original writings of the National poet Dun Karm Psaila and Rużar Briffa, among others.

Prof. Bernard Micallef and Dr Olvin Vella will be leading the visit to this part of the library, which is not normally accessible to the public, and they will be giving information about what Melitensia is and how important it is to make this written heritage available to the public and students in Malta.

The word ‘Melitensia’ is a term used to describe the intellectual and artistic content in the material produced, or directly relevant, to Maltese and the study of Malta, regardless of where it originated. Such materials may be in a handwritten format, such as manuscripts and letters, or printed, such as published books, newspapers, as well as digital and technological, such as audiovisual work.

Melitensia covers all Maltese works on any subject and in any language, published locally or elsewhere. They may or may not be in Malta. Melitensia at the University of Malta covers the largest collection of this material after what we find in the National Library.

A valid COVID-19 vaccine certificate is required.

The event ‘Tlaqna sal-Melitensia’ will take place on Wednesday 23 March from 11am to 12pm as part of the programme of events of the 2022 Campus Book Festival. Anyone wishing to book a place should send an email to [email protected].