University Library to embark on ‘restricted book list’ review

The review was prompted by wide-scale controversy that erupted following accusations by university lecturers and the Front Against Censorship that the university library is keeping controversial titles under lock and key.

On Monday, Front Against Censorship announced that it “has been in contact with the director of the University Library regarding the issue of the books locked inside the cabinet.”

”Last week, we have been told that the library will be embarking on a review of the contents of the cabinet in order to separate antique books and other precious items from books which do not qualify for such status,” the Front said.

”Following this review, the latter category of books will either be taken out of the cabinet, or extra copies will be bought and placed on the shelves. This process will include the 33 ‘controversial’ books identified by the Front during the month of January.”

”If this is implemented, the aforementioned controversial books could be placed, where they belong, on the shelves amongst other books,” the Front added.

Describing this as “definitely good news”, the Front said that it is looking forward to a “formal statement by the library itself,” and pledged to continue monitoring the situation “to ensure that these books find their rightful place on the shelves of the library.”

Contacted by MaltaToday later that day, Ellul confirmed that the University library would indeed kick off an evaluation of the books currently on restricted access, and determine if these are warranted as such.

He also confirmed that the university would also be purchasing additional copies of those books that are, due to their fragility or value, unsuitable for placement on open access shelves.

He said that the University would be shortly announcing the decision through official channels.

Last month, Ellul had adamantly denied that the University library was censoring content, maintaining that  books placed on restricted access are there to 'safeguard the collection'

Ellul justified the restriction of certain books because “some of these books might be out of print, or very fragile, or might be in such high demand that, once placed on open shelves, pages might get torn out, or stolen entirely.”