Notarial Archives need more funds to safeguard national heritage

Nationalist MEP Therese Comodin speaks to researches on copyright reform: ‘Archaic documents of national heritage value need to be preserved’

Therese Comodini Cachia (second left) is EU rapporteur for copyright reform
Therese Comodini Cachia (second left) is EU rapporteur for copyright reform

EU funds are assisting Malta’s Notarial Archives to be transformed into a living museum where researchers can have access through the documents held at the archives, most of which were discovered in precarious state.

Foreign universities interested in the archives are preparing for study visits for students specifically for research purposes.

Dr Joan Abela, president of the Malta Notarial Archives Resources Centre, has appealed to the government to facilitate further access to funds for better administration of the Notarial Archives, during a visit by Nationalist MEP Therese Comodini Cahica, who discussed aspects of copyright reform with researchers and volonteers.

Comodini Cachia was appointed as EU rapporteur responsible for European copyright reform, and wanted to experience first-hand the meticolous work being done at the Notarial Archives particularly in preserving our national heritage through digitization. “We have to give the opportunity to citizens to access such documents,” the MEP said, where she appreciated works at the Notarial Archives being done by workers and volontiers for the preservation of such important legal documents which portray the cultural, social and economic aspects of our forefathers.

“It is of utmost importance that everyone would have access and knowledge of the socio-economic heritage of our forefathers. We should start, however, through preservation of cultural content, as the Notarial Archives is doing.”

As part of her work, Comodini Cachia will also emphasise on further collaboration between different European countries in the field of research. This can also be done through the creation of specialized networks bringing together foreign researchers to can give their expertise in the digitization of documents.

The MEP has launched a new page in her website http://www.comodinicachia.com/feedback.html, so that the general public can submit their proposals for the copyright reform.